Smithsonia straminea is endemic to the Western Ghats, southern India. It is mainly confined to moist-deciduous forests and semi-evergreen forests. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is estimated to be 78,957 km (which is far beyond the limits for Vulnerable under criterion B1), whereas its area of occupancy (AOO) is estimated to be 120 km² (which falls within the limits for Endangered status under the criterion B2). It is known to exist in 30 locations including several that were surveyed by recent surveys (J.S. Jalal pers. comm. 2023). Several locations occur in the different protected areas across the Western Ghats and do not appear to be under direct anthropogenic threats at this moment, the probability of having the existing threat in these PAs can not be disregarded. The number of locations is exceeding the threshold limit of Vulnerable. Outside the protected areas, the population is threatened by habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and anthropogenic pressure. The total number of mature individuals is not known for all the locations but based on recent surveys and past information we infer the total population size in Western Ghats between 2,000-3,000 mature individuals. It has been observed that mature individuals produce fruit exceptionally well and have a good germination rate despite a significant decline in the quality of habitat. Additionally, the distributional range is expanding as Ganesan et al. (2019) added Tamil Nadu state to its distribution range recently. Despite these likely threats it has been projected that the ongoing loss of its habitat will not induce a drastic decline in the number of mature individuals in the near future. Based on the present data the species does not fall under any threatened category and hence, is assessed as Least Concern.

Smithsonia straminea is endemic to the Western Ghats of India (Jalal and Jayanthi 2012, Singh et al. 2019). It occurs in Maharashtra (Jalal 2018), Goa (Jalal 2022), Karnataka (Saldanha and Nicolson 1976, Rao and Sridhar 2007), Kerala (Kumar and Manilal 2004) and Tamil Nadu (Ganesan et al. 2019).

Rao (1998) noted that the species was common along the Western Ghats at that time. In Maharashtra, approximately 110 mature individuals were observed on mango trees (Mandar and Ghate, 2011). Jalal and Singh (2015) estimated the population size in Maharashtra to contain around 210 mature individuals. The population size estimated for Goa is 200-300 mature individuals (J.S. Jalal pers. comm. 2016) and for the rest of the states, the population size is not known. However, Kumar et al. (2001) estimated that the overall population size in the Western Ghats is less than 500 mature individuals, which appears to be an underestimation. Its range has also expanded due to the discovery of new populations in Maharashtra state (Mandar and Ghate, 2011) and Tamil Nadu state (Ganesan et al. 2019). Hence, we infer the total population size in the Western Ghats of between 2,000-3,000 mature individuals.

Smithsonia straminea is found in moist-deciduous forests and semi-evergreen forests. It has been seen commonly on the host tree Mangifera indica L. in Goa and Maharashtra.

Habitat loss (due to the conversion of forests for agricultural land, monoculture plantations of tea, coffee, rubber, oil palm, teak, eucalyptus, building dams, highways and railways) and anthropogenic pressure. There is a substantial decline in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests in the Western Ghats and due to the logging of the host trees, there is a decline in the number of mature individuals and the quality of habitat.

There is no information on the economic uses of this species.

No specific conservation measures or management plan are in place for this species. Management and protection of sites and ex situ conservation is required. Research is needed population size and trends.