opuntia chlorotica spines - south mojave desert - 061222

angiosperms eudicots clade caryophyllales cactaceae cactus family pancake prickly pear flapjack dollarjoint opuntia chlorotica wild perennial shrub succulent monoclinous green yellow spine point sharp barb tough formidable caution fierce california botanical biology conservation vegetation tranquility joshua tree national park southern mojave desert little bernardino mountains creosote scrub chaparral ecosystem nature indigenous native plants peaceful environment biodiversity botany natural beauty summer flora scenic hiking