Native to the ravines of sandstone mountains in central and southern Bolivia. This area sees no rain for 10 months of the year so the plant is very drought hardy. It is now considered to be an endangered species.
The nuts are edible, sweet and fleshy. They contain edible oil. The frond fibre is woven into rope, baskets, mats and saddles. The leaf midrib is used for fuel and the leaf stalk is used for is used for construction.