Bentinckia condapanna is a palm endemic to Southern Western Ghats. It is reported from Kerala and Tamilnadu states of India. It grows in forest habitat between 622-1,900 m elevation. This species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 16,175 km² calculated by drawing minimum convex polygon in GeoCAT (Bachman et al. 2011) and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 168 km² calculated using a 2x2 km grid. It is known to occur in 35 locations. The species is used locally by Kani tribe as food. There is a threat of habitat conversion, loss and population decline due to invasive species and overexploitation of young shoots as food. The species is assessed here as Endangered as it meets the area requirements under subcriterion B2, is severely fragmented and there is a continuing decline in population and habitat quality. Habitat protection is required for conservation and research in harvest and population ecology and trend is needed.

Bentinckia condapanna is endemic to the southern Western Ghats. It is predominantly seen growing on mountain cliffs in the evergreen forests situated at an altitude ranging from around 622 to 1,900 m ASL along the hill forests of the forests of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Gnanasekar et al. (2021) studied this species and restricted it to southern Western Ghats, and reported the distribution as a chain link from Kanyakumari to Anamalai Tiger Reserve. However, there was no report of Bentinckia condapanna in forests of Meghamalai, Theni, and Tirupur until Anamalai Tiger Reserve, which falls between the recorded distribution pattern in Western Ghats.

Detailed population studies of this species are not available. However, the number of mature individuals is reported from some of the sites. 

Murukesh and Ashokan (2018) observed 76 mature individuals and 66 seedlings of Bentinckia condapanna distributed across a 500 m² area in Shendurney forest range. Researchers observed that Agasthyamala area has a large subpopulation but other areas outside it have only small subpopulation sizes. Subpopulation in Mankulam, Munnar has only 20-30 mature individuals (K. Subin pers. comm. 2024), and that in Upper Manalar, Periyar Tiger Reserve has only 5 individuals (N. Page pers. comm. 2024). A large subpopulation in Kollam Trivandrum region inside the protected areas with 100-150 individuals. 

Based on known records and field observations, we suspect that there are between 40-50 subpopulations with an average of 30 mature individuals per subpopulation, giving a conservative estimate of 1,200-1,500 mature individuals in the population. Based on expert knowledge, even the largest subpopulations are unlikely to be larger than 300 mature individuals, thus even maximum population estimation does not exceed 15,000 individuals (R. Ramasubbu pers. comm. 2024). Agasthyamalai is the only region with larger populations while the others are small and scattered. Local experts suggest that fires and herbivory of saplings is leading to decline in the population. Thus we feel that the conservative estimate (1,200-1,500 mature individuals) is close to the actual population size.

Bentinckia condapanna is primarily found on steep rocky slopes and cliffs within rainforests (Gnanasekar et al. 2021) at an altitude ranging from around 622 to 1,900 m. It can be observed either in uniform stands or intertwined with high-altitude evergreen forests (Abhilash and Brijesh 2013). This species is sensitive to microclimate variation and thrives exclusively in wooded areas with high rainfall areas (Gnanasekar et al. 2021). It has a strong root association with rocks which helps the survival of the species on cliffs. It has ability to grow in soil-less platforms and under high wind velocities (Gnanasekar et al. 2021). This palm stands tall with a single stem, measuring between 10 to 22 meters in height and having a diameter of 15 to 90 centimetres at breast height. 

It is a strong light demander, fog resilient, fire and drought loving, and a good colonizer. It is a very sensitive species in its regeneration process and prefers to grow in open places. The species grows well in shallow, porous soil with good drainage in first or second order streams where a continuous soil moisture regime is ensured from frequent precipitation (Basu et al. 2014).

Habitat loss due to invasive species is a major threat to this species. Changes in climate, including variations in temperature and rainfall, can significantly impact its regeneration. Some species of Ochlandra that live in the same habitat thrive better than B. condapanna in these conditions, thus encroaching the habitat of the palm. Invasion of its area of provenance by other floral species is identified as a major threat in their study (Aruna et al. 2014). Elephants consume the species, so increasing elephant population also affects the plant population. In some cases, the cane cutters going to the forests may harvest shoot tips as food. Over-exploitation of this palm species as food by local people and habitat destruction were considered to be the major barriers to its limited population in nature (Kaliamoorthi 2009), along with forest fires and the young leaves being consumed by elephants (Renuka et al. 1996). Kaliamoorthi (2009) observed that seed dormancy could lead to restricted numbers. Wood is used for making huts and pandals (roofing) (Renuka et al. 1996). 

Utilization of Bentinckia condapanna is restricted to some remote localities. Terminal buds and juvenile leaves of the palm are edible and eaten either in raw or cooked form, it has a nutty flavour and the local Kani tribes use them for the same (Renuka et al. 1996, Aruna et al. 2014). The leaves are used for thatch pandals (roofing) and huts locally, wood is rarely used for huts and fences. The inflorescence is used for religious ceremonies by some hill tribes in Kerala (Renuka et al. 1996). It has medicinal properties, parts are used under the Indian system of medicine. It is cultivated as an ornamental palm in botanic gardens and parks (Aruna et al. 2014).

It is present inside the protected areas in southern Western Ghats such as Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Kalakad Mundathurai Tiger Reserve, Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. It is also reported in three ex situ collections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.