Navajo Bridge pricklypear

Opuntia nicholii L. D. Benson, Cacti Arizona ed. 2, 48. 1950; O. hystricina Engelmann & J. M. Bigelow var. nicholii (L. D. Benson) Backeberg

Stem segments narrowly to broadly obovate, 10-27 × 7-18 cm; areoles 8-11 per diagonal row across midstem segment, 12-30 mm apart. Spines in most areoles, of 2 kinds: major spines 1-5 per areole, down curved, ascending near stem segment apex, pink-gray or basal ²/3 brown to black, the longest 45-150 mm; minor spines 3-8 per areole, deflexed, white to gray, 60-220 cm (spine clusters easily detached in preparing specimens). Fruits stout; areoles 18-24, most bearing 3-12 spines, 8-17 mm. 2n = 66.

Flowering spring. Barren areas with saltbush and ephedra, limestone or red, sandy soils; 1200-1300 m; Ariz., Utah.