Opuntia abjecta
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Opuntia abjecta faces severe threats from urban development and agricultural expansion across its extremely limited range in the Florida Keys. The species is particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction from coastal development projects and infrastructure construction. Hurricane damage and storm surge events pose additional risks to the remaining fragmented populations, while invasive plant species compete for the specialized coastal scrub habitat this cactus requires.
Habitat
This critically endangered cactus is endemic to coastal scrub habitats and pine rocklands in the Florida Keys. It typically grows in well-drained sandy soils and limestone substrates in areas with high salt tolerance near the coast.
