Platylepis occulta, a terrestrial orchid, native but not endemic to Madagascar, is known from humid forests between 46 and 1600 m elevation. The species occurs in 10 countries, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Comoros Islands, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Seychelles, and South Africa. The origin of the plants on mainland Africa is uncertain, hence the occurrences on the Indian Ocean islands are treated here as being part of the native range. 

 The species is recorded from four observations and 64 collections made between 1771 (Commerson s.n.) and 2021 (Spirit Collection Antananarivo 795T1146). Two observations and 28 collections without accurate locality information were not taken into account in this assessment. The remaining 36 collections and two observations with accurate locality information represent 31 occurrences among which 13 were made in 10 protected areas. In addition to these legally protected sites, six collections, representing six occurrences, all of which date from more than four decades ago, (Perrier 16917 in Antanambao, Jonsson 1012 in Andilamena, Jean Louis 11074 in Barumbu, Equipe de Boukoko 2623 in the Station de Boukoko, Commerson s.n. in Bois de Gol, and Boivin in the Quartier du Grand Port) have been recorded in unprotected forests, they were facing forest clearing due to industrial sugarcane plantation, urban development, shifting agriculture, and forest degradation due to small scale agriculture, along with wood harvesting for subsistence. These six occurrences should now be considered as extirpated. Moreover, three collections representing three occurrences were made within the footprint of a mining project in Madagascar that has undergone and is undergoing intense human pressure from forest clearing, one of them (Rasolofoniaina 8) should now be considered as extirpated, and two (Andriantiana 467bis and Antilahimena 6825) that are located in a conservation zone surrounding the footprint of a mining project as likely to be extirpated in the near future. The species is thus known from 36 collections and two human observations with accurate locality information representing 22 existing and nine extirpated occurrences.

The 22 existing occurrences represent a total of 22 locations (sensu IUCN 2022) with respect to the most serious plausible threats forest clearing due to mining activities and industrial sugarcane plantation, although the species is also facing forest degradation due to small scale agriculture, wood harvesting for subsistence, and fire. The extent of occurrence (EOO) of P. occulta is calculated as 2,197,409 km² (far exceeding the upper limit for vulnerable status under criterion B1) whereas its area of occupancy (AOO) is estimated at 80 km² (falling within the limits for Endangered status under criterion B2). It is inferred that the loss of six occurrences in unprotected forests, and three in the mine footprint in the past, and the future loss of two occurrences in the conservation zone have induced a continuing decline of its AOO, habitat quality, and the number of mature individuals, the conditions for applying subcriterion a under criterion B2 are not met. The species is not severely fragmented in most of the areas where it occurs and does not meet the threshold of any threatened categories under criterion B. It is also inferred that the ongoing loss of three occurrences in the footprint of a mining project and six in the unprotected forests in the past, and the future loss of two occurrences in the conservation zone have induced a reduction of 30% for the AOO from 120 km² in the past to 84 km², which fall within the limit of Vulnerable status under criterion A2c. Platylepis occulta is thus assigned a Vulnerable status (VU) A2c.

The species is supposedly recorded from ten countries: the Central African Republic (Station de Boukoko), Comoros Islands (Mwali – Kidogobassi, Grande Comore: Singani and Forêt de St Antoine), the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Barumbu, Equatorial Guinea (Near Niefang), Madagascar, Mauritius (Mont Deux Mammelles and Grand Port), Mayotte (Monts Bénara Forest Reserve and Songoro Mbili Forest Reserve), Réunion (Saint Phillippe, Monts de Sainte Anne and Bois du Gol), Seychelles (Morne Blanc), and South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal). The origin of the plants in mainland Africa is uncertain, and hence this assessment only treats the plants on the Indian Ocean Islands to be part of its native range. In Madagascar it occurs in five Regions: Alaotra-Mangoro (Analamazaotra, Ambatovy, Mantadia, and Torotorofotsy), Antsinanana (Ankerana) in the formerly recognized Province of Toamasina; Anosy (Andohahela) in the formerly recognized Province of Toliara; Diana (Manongarivo) in the formerly recognized Province of Antsiranana; Vatovavy (Ranomafana) in the formerly recognized Province of Fianarantsoa.

The population of Platylepis occulta is currently thought to be decreasing since six occurrences in unprotected forests and three occurrences on the mine footprint have been extirpated, and two occurrences will be extirpated in the near future, have induced a reduction of 30% for the AOO from  120 to 84 km². The number of mature individuals was not estimated.

Platylepis occulta is known from humid forests between 46 and 1,600 m elevation.

The loss of six occurrences in unprotected forests in the past, three in the mine footprint has induced a continuing decline in area, extent and/or the quality of the habitat of the species.

There are no reported uses of this species, but it may be sought after by specialist collectors.

Thirteen occurrences of the species are situated within 10 protected areas: two occurrences (Ramandimbisoa 287 and Razafidraimbe 607) in Analamazaotra National Park, two (Du Puy M862, and Humbert 14028) in Andohahela National Park, one (Spirit Collection Antananarivo 795T1146) in the Ankerana Forest of the Ankeniheny-Zahamena Corridor,  one (Perrier de la Bâthie 1655) in Manongarivo Special Reserve, one (Antilahimena 8751) in Mantadia National Park, one (Morat 4015) in Marojejy National Park, and two in the Torotorofotsy Protected Area in Madagascar; one occurrence (Friedman 3869, 5050bis, and 5531) in the Morne National Park in Seychelles, one human observation in Monts Bénara Forest Reserve and one in the Songoro Mbili Forest Reserve in Mayotte. The species is listed in CITES Appendix II.