Bentinckia nicobarica is a species of flowering plant in the family Arecaceae endemic to the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. It is a palm native to Great Nicobar, Katchal, Nancowry and Car Nicobar islands. The occurrence of this species in Andaman and Nicobar group of islands other than Katchal Island is yet to be confirmed as natural/escape or by human introduction. It is an endangered species according to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2016 with Red List Category & Criteria as C2a (ver 2.3). Living specimens of this taxon are conserved at the Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah, at the Field Gene Bank of Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram and in Dhanikhari Experimental Garden cum Arboretum (DEGCA) in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Description

Bentinckia nicobarica grows about 20m tall and girth is about 25 cm. The stems are used by the local people in house and fence construction. It is generally seen along with other palm species such as Areca catechu, Pinanga manii and Rhopaloblaste augusta.