Corynopuntia reflexispina
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Corynopuntia reflexispina faces severe threats from urban development and agricultural expansion across its extremely limited range in the Sonoran Desert. The species is particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation due to its specialized soil requirements and slow growth rate. Mining activities and recreational vehicle use have directly destroyed known populations, while invasive plant species compete for the limited suitable habitat remaining.
Habitat
This critically endangered cactus inhabits specialized desert scrub communities on gravelly bajadas and rocky slopes in the Sonoran Desert. It requires well-drained, alkaline soils and is typically found at elevations between 300-800 meters in association with creosote bush and palo verde communities.