Opuntia rastrera can be found in bajada, hill-piedmont, and interdune habitats in locations such as the Mapimi biosphere reserve, where it is sometimes the most common cactus in a given location, or sometimes a secondary cactus.[3]
Propagation
In order to germinate, the seeds require a dormancy period of at least a year. As with other Opuntia species, mechanical or chemical scarification does not seem to help.[4]
The species can reproduce either vegetatively or by seed. In fact, the nature of the habitat determines which is more common, with sexual reproduction dominating in grasslands and vegetative propagation dominating in scrublands.[5]
^Palleiro, N.; Mandujano, M. C.; Golubov, J. (2006). "Aborted fruits of Opuntia microdasys (Cactaceae): insurance against reproductive failure". American Journal of Botany. 93 (4): 505–511. doi:10.3732/ajb.93.4.505. PMID21646210.
^M.C. Mandujanoa; C. Montañab & M. Rojas-Aréchiga (July 2005). "Breaking seed dormancy in Opuntia rastrera from the Chihuahuan desert". Journal of Arid Environments. 62 (1): 15–21. Bibcode:2005JArEn..62...15M. doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2004.10.009.