[1][2] The specific epithet refers to the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina where it is the most distributed.

The margins of the petioles are densely toothed with numerous, robust, up to 4 cm (1.6 in) long spines, and many flattened fibres when the leaves are young.

Unlike other species of Butia (except B. odorata), these are usually in the same plane, but sometimes inserted at very slightly divergent angels along the rachis, but without giving the leaf a plumose aspect such as in Syagrus, and with each pair of pinnae forming a neat V-shape.

[5] It grows in the lowlands situated in a relatively narrow strip along the coast from the municipalities of Araquari in Santa Catarina to Osório in Rio Grande do Sul.

[2] It is typically found growing not far from the coast in restinga, a type of dry, coastal, tropical thorn-scrub.

[2] The edible fruit of this palm are collected for myriad uses where the trees grow naturally in Brazil.

As of 2018 the Centro Nacional de Conservação da Flora has not yet rated the conservation status for Brazil, and it is listed as 'not evaluated'.