This is a range-restricted species, known from two localities on the mountains surrounding Athens, the capital city of Greece, making it extremely rare in the country. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is around 120 km² and area of occupancy (AOO) is 20 km². The number of locations is two. Its habitat is declining due to heavy grazing and military/telecommunication facilities. It is possible that a huge fire on Mount Pateras in 2021, resulted in loss of plants. Also, there is imminent threat due to an application for wind farm establishment. Despite the fact that it is a plant protected by Greek law, no conservation measures have been taken. The species is classified as Endangered under B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v).

This species is native to Greece, endemic to the area of Attiki. It grows on the mountains of Pateras and Parnitha. There is also a record from Mount Aigaleo, but this report has not been confirmed since 1937. Therefore, it is not taken into account to the range of the species. It is considered a rare endemic plant of Attiki (Dimopoulos et al. 2022, Strid 2022).

There are two known subpopulations of the species. One on Mount Parnitha (Aplada 2003, Aplada et al. 2007, Andriopoulos 2011), consisting of five groups and one on Mount Pateras (Constantinidis and Yannitsaros 1996, Constantinidis 1997), consisting of four groups. Andriopoulos investigated the habitat of Thliphthisa baenitzii in his thesis (2011). During his research, he located three out of four of the previously known Mount Pateras' groups. The one near Myrini was not found at the time. On Mount Parnitha, he located the first known group and described two more, located 70 m apart from each other and comprised of very few individuals, eight and eighteen respectively. Another group was located by Erotokritos Kalogeropoulos during 2008, in an area previously burnt by a huge fire in 2007, as mentioned in Andriopoulos (2011). The fifth group was discovered in 2014 by Eirini Aplada and Linda Young, in an area also burnt by the fire of 2007. The species is mentioned in The Red Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece (Phitos et al. 1995, Phitos et al. 2009). In the Red Data Book of 1995, Constantinidis and Yannitsaros described the four localities of Mount Pateras. At the time, the larger group comprised not more than 100 individuals and the smaller consisting of only two plants. The species, called Asperula baenitzii at the time, was classified as Vulnerable. In the Red Data Book of 2009, Andriopoulos, Constantinidis and Arianoutsou, who documented the taxon Asperula baenitzii, measured the total population at less than 250 mature individuals. They classified it as Endangered D2, which doesn't exist as an IUCN category. After the discovery of the latest group on Parnitha during 2014, which measured approximately 30 individuals, we estimate that the current total population consists of approximately 280 mature individuals.

The species is found in rocky clearings of Abies cephalonica forest, in open, dry, calcareous fissures and gravelly ground. It often grows along with Asperula pulvinaris, Draba lasiocarpa, Cephalaria setulifera, Thymus parnassicus, Scabiosa webbiana, Bolanthus graecus, etc. It is a perennial plant with underground rhizome, forming small clusters. It forms dimorphic shoots, with biennial life cycle (Andriopoulos 2011). The mature shoots emerge during the summer and wither the next year, during winter. This means that the development of the new shoots happens along with the completion of fruiting of last year's shoots. This fact gives an advantage to Thliphthisa baenitzii, over other species - perennials or therophytes - with annual shoots, which, during winter, rely on underground structures for survival. T. baenitzii on the other hand, retains ground segments during winter, that are ready to elongate and bloom in early summer. The species develops larger leaf surface during the summer months, as opposed to winter.

The highest summits of Mount Parnitha are covered by military establishments and telecommunication antenna facilities. It is believed that they have already destroyed a large part of the original population. The remaining plants grow mainly along the roadsides, so they are in danger of new constructions or road repairs. The huge fire of 2007 that destroyed two thirds of Parnitha's fir forest left one subpopulation group untouched. Furthermore, a few years later, in 2008 and 2014, four previously unknown groups were found in the burnt area. It is possible that the groups existed there and thrived after the fire, which left entire rocky slopes open and dry. It is likely that the fissures in rocks, where the species grows, and its extremely small height of few centimetres, offer some protection against fire. Also, the underground rhizome possibly contributes to the species survival after fire. Parnitha is a mountain surrounding the capital city of Greece and it hosts army camps, mountain refuges and a casino. Therefore, a lot of people work at those facilities. Along with thousands of Athens' residents that visit the mountain for recreation, climbing, hiking etc., they comprise a large crowd that disturbs the mountain's ecosystem and could be a threat for Thliphthisa baenitzii. The subpopulation of Mount Pateras has faced the threat of grazing over time. In addition, during August 2021 a huge fire burnt a large part of Mount Pateras, 10,175 ha. approximately (https://effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/apps/effis_current_situation/). All of the species' habitat on Mount Pateras was burnt. Surveys must be carried out, in order to examine if the species survived, which is possible, if we reflect on the case of Parnitha. Furthermore, the area of this mountain's summits, where the plant grows, is included in an application for wind farm establishment, according to the Greek Regulation Authority for Energy (https://geo.rae.gr/?tab=viewport_maptab, accessed at March 5th 2023). Should this proposal be approved, the constructing of roads for the carrying of the wind turbines, as well as the flattening of the landscape, in order to raise the turbines, will definitely destroy the species' habitat on the mountain.

There is no trade or use information of this species.

Thliphthisa baenitzii is protected by Greek Law (Presidential Decree 67/1981). Its habitat on Mount Parnitha is included in the Natura 2000 site GR3000001 and in the Parnitha National Park. The National Park has a management plan, according to which there are 16 protection zones. The species grows in zone A2, where only scientific research, outdoor recreation and environmental awareness are allowed. The species is evaluated as of first priority for protection on Mount Parnitha according to Andriopoulos and Arianoutsou 2007. There is no management plan for Mount Pateras. Part of the mountain is designated as Wild Life Refuge under K408, FEK 96/B/1984 (Government Gazette). The species must be researched for its population and habitat and it has to be monitored for several years, in order for specific threats against it to be recognized. Furthermore research must be done for ex situ cultivation and propagation in Botanic Gardens and Research Centres, to ensure its conservation. Also, the people living in Attiki and visiting Parnitha and Pateras, must be informed about the rarity of several plant taxa growing on these mountains and environmental awareness programmes must be developed towards this cause.