The Purple Cactus

I have this very small Santa Rita cactus in my yard. It balances tenderly on one pad. It is kind of top heavy and sways in the wind. I am sure one day it will just topple over, but it perseveres.

The stem pads are flattened, round, and spineless and are dotted with aureole glochids (sharp micro-spines).

Those are worth a closer look.

This attractive cactus is especially common in the area where I live, in the foothills of Arizona's Santa Rita Mountains. It is a protected native plant.

Mine has no buds on it this year, so no yellower flowers. The large plants are just gorgeous.