Malpighia obtusifolia
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Malpighia obtusifolia faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in the Caribbean and Central America. Habitat fragmentation has isolated remaining populations, reducing genetic diversity and limiting natural regeneration. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and increased storm intensity, which can damage the shallow root systems of this small tree species.
Habitat
This species inhabits dry coastal forests, scrublands, and rocky hillsides in tropical and subtropical regions. It typically grows in well-drained soils at low to moderate elevations, often in areas with seasonal rainfall patterns.