Hedgehog Cactus

The hedgehog cactus colors the desert during the springtime with its magenta flowers. The flowers attract a plethora of native bees due to its abundant pollen and nectar. The pollen is heavy, therefor carried through insects, not the wind.

Although a cactus is a prickly specimen, the fruit that it produces is eaten by Native people in southern Nevada. The sweet, red fruit can be eaten either fresh or dry during the summer months of the year.