Origin and Habitat: Coryphantha compactaSN|1061]]SN|1061]] is a fairly widespread and very abundant species found in northwestern Mexico, where it occurs on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental (Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, and Durango).
Altitude: 1400-2400 metres above sea level.
Habitat: It appears to be very abundant in a variety of habitat comprising grasslands in sandy plains, volcanic soils in dry hills and pine forests in mountains. In the same area it is possible to find several cactus and succulent species like: Mammillaria wrightiiSN|20809]]SN|9411]] v. wilcoxii, Mammillaria gummiferaSN|9411]]SN|20809]], Erythrina americana and Nolina texana. Land use change for agriculture may be a threat in places, but this is not having a significant impact at present.

• Coryphantha compacta (Engelm.) Britton & Rose
• Cactus compactus (Engelm.) Kuntze
• Mammillaria compacta Engelm.

• Coryphantha compacta (Engelm.) Britton & Rose
• Cactus compactus (Engelm.) Kuntze
• Mammillaria compacta Engelm.
• Coryphantha altimiranoi Frič ex Orcutt
• Coryphantha heyei Frič
• Coryphantha palmeri Britton & Rose
• Coryphantha palmeri var. pectinata

Description: Coryphantha compactaSN|1061]]SN|1061]] is a small, usually solitary species widespread over a wide territory in northwestern Mexico and therefore, very variable. It often shows only radial spines, but occasionally central appears.
Stems: Globose somewhat depressed, pale grey-green to deep green, (2-)4-5(-6) cm high, (5-)6-8(-9) cm broad.
Tubercles: Crowded, imbricate, in about 13 rows, 8-17 mm long and sulcate above.
Central spine: Usually this species has no central spines, but occasionally it produces central spines, either on single areoles of a plant only, but also on all areoles. The central spines are stout, sharp, hooked, bent downward like cat claws, yellowish and usually dark brown tipped, reddish-brown when young and 8-20 mm long. The frequency of occurrence of the single, strong and curved to hooked central spine varies very much. from one population to another. With the exception of the absence or existence of centrals, all the other characteristics are absolutely identical, namely size and form of tubercles, number, size and arrangement of radial spines, flowers, fruits and seeds. Furthermore this species is one of those Coryphantha which pass a purely radial-spined long youth stage in which they are already floriferous. Some of the plants after several years develop the central spines, giving the plant its sea urchin appearance.
Radial spines: 11-16, rigid, appressed, flattened against the stem surface and interwoven, white to yellow, 10-20 mm long.
Flowers: Yellow, to 2 cm long and in diameter.
Fruits: Oval.
Seeds: Smooth and yellow.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006Jackie M. Poole, William R. Carr, Dana M. Price, Jason R. Singhurst “Rare plants of Texas: a field guide” Texas A&M University Press, 30/Dec/2007
4) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” Courier Dover Publications, 1963
5) Dicht, R.F., Lüthy, A.D. & Goettsch, B.K. 2013. Coryphantha compacta. In: IUCN 2013. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 16 January 2014.

Cultivation and Propagation: In culture it is without problems, and regularly shows its large yellow flowers. It does best in slight shade, but does well in full sun too. It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone), and needs a very porous soil with good drainage. It flowers quite early, but needs about 8-12 years to reach the typical, definite outlook. It tolerates fairly low temperatures as long as it is kept dry (hardy to -12° C for short periods of time).
Propagation:: Propagation is by seed.
Traditional uses: Used by Tarahuma shamans as a kind of peyote.