Opuntia phaeacantha  Brownspine Prickly Pear
CACTUS.  Plants have spreading branches that creep along the ground.  Pads oval to teardrop-shaped.  Areoles dark, with brown glochids and tan to brown central spines.  Flowers yellow with red stripes.  Fruits dark red or purple, oval or teardrop-shaped.  Pads (and thus the plants) are variable in size.  In the Empires, occasional in the lowest, flattest desertscrub, often growing with O. engelmannii which is larger, with erect branches, white central spines, and pale yellow flowers.
FAMILY:  Cactaceae (Cactus Family)