Opuntia Species, Prickly Pear Cactus, Beavertail Cactus

Opuntia basilaris var. whitneyana (E. M. Baxter), is endemic to only one small area, the Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, Owens Valley, Inyo Cou...Read Morenty, California, this is the type locality where it was collected and described from. It was named for the line of sight (picture view) of Mt. Whitney. This is a dwarf plant with pads up to 1” thick and what is interesting is that it will not change its characteristics even when grown out side of its native environment. There was another described plant at this locality, but not well excepted Opuntia basilaris ssp. whitneyana var. albiflora (E. M. Baxter), it may very well be just a ‘white flowered’ form.