Pennantia baylisiana The world's rarest tree is Pennantia baylisiana, also called Three Kings Kaikomako. It was near extinction because the only remaining specimen was female and could not reproduce. However, botanists found viable fruits and planted them within botanical gardens around the world to save it.
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.
If you have been wondering what the rarest trees in the world are, then you are in the right place.
There are trees that are only found in one place and others in two. There are those that are extinct while others are at a high risk of the same.
Reading this article will arm you with comprehensive knowledge about the rarest, most exotic, and most endangered trees in the world. It will also help you know the ones that are at high risk of extinction. You will learn how you can make your two cents worth of contribution in protecting them.
Cataloging the Rarest Trees in the World
The rare tree names may not actually be the names of rare trees, but some of them are. Some of the rarest trees in the world are the African Blackwood, Saint Helena Gumwood, Monkey Puzzle,4 and African Baobab Tree. Others are Dragon Blood Tree, Bois Dentelle, and Three Kings Kaikomako.
#1. African Blackwood
It is also called “Mpingo.” It grows between Senegal and Eritrea. Its name comes from the color of its wood, which is a dark, almost purple hue.
It is an endangered species because its lumber is great for musical instruments and fine furniture. The absence of conservation efforts and over-harvesting has made it rare and placed it in the list of trees threatened by extinction.
There you are, you can start by supporting conservation efforts for this tree.
#2. Saint Helena Gumwood
It is mainly found in the remote islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, including Tristan da Cunha, Ascension, and Saint Helena. It has historically been damaged by invasive species of animals and plants. The East India Company also used it for fuel during its settlements.
#3. Monkey Puzzle
This is one of the most unusual names for a tree. This species is ancient and can be traced back to over 200 million years ago. It is resistant to fire because it evolved near volcanoes.
Overgrazing, logging, mining, and a combination of many other human activities has led it to become endangered.
#4. African Baobab Tree
Like the Monkey Puzzle, its origin is traceable to over 200 million years ago. It can live up to 5,000 years. It features in much African folklore as a symbol of life.
Its conservation can greatly contribute to healing the planet by reducing global warming. Its numbers are dwindling at a very high rate in the continent.
#5. Dragon Blood Tree
It is primarily found in Socotra, which is an island in Yemen. Locals use it as an abortifacient and a stimulant. It used to be a popular source of ritual magic and alchemy because of its occult-like properties.
Its greatest threats are tourism, industry, and drying.
#6. Bois Dentelle
This tree has only two remaining specimens in the world. Also called Lace Wood, it has white flowers that are shaped like bells. It lives in the forest of Mauritius.
Its greatest threat is a commercial application.
#7. Three Kings Kaikomako
This is the rarest tree in the world. It is also known as Pennantia baylisiana. There is only one species in the world, and it is found on the Three Kings Islands in New Zealand.
World’s Rarest Tree: Three Kings Kaikomoko
The world’s rarest tree is Pennantia baylisiana, also called Three Kings Kaikomako. It was near extinction because the only remaining specimen was female and could not reproduce. However, botanists found viable fruits and planted them within botanical gardens around the world to save it.
The only remaining wild Three Kings Kaikomako is found in the northern part of the Great Island.
Rare Tree Names
There are very unusual and rare tree names in the world. Some are intriguing, others iconic, and others just downright strange.
Here is a list of the names and where the trees are found;
Aspen Tree in the United States.
Brazil Nut in Bolivia.
Yoshino Cherry in Japan.
Areca Palm Tree in India.
Traveller’s Tree in Madagascar.
Silver Birch in Finland.
Kauri Tree in New Zealand.
Baobab Tree in Southern Africa.
Dragon Blood Tree in Socotra.
Rarest Trees in North America
There are many rare trees in North America that you probably don’t know about. One is found in California and is called General Sherman. Also known as the Giant Sequoia, it is the biggest living tree (by volume) in all the Earth.
It is estimated to be over 2,200 years old and weighs an estimated 747 airplanes.
There is also the Seven Sisters, otherwise known as the Live Oak. Its name is thought to originate from the woman who named it and was thought to have had seven sisters. It is fairly large and has a circumference of 467 inches.
Another rare tree in North America is the Osage Orange found in Virginia. It is much younger than the other two and is estimated to be about 200 years old. It has a height of 60 feet and a girth of 349 inches.
Some tree and plant experts call it the hedge or horse apple, or monkey ball because it produces spherical bumpy fruit with white latex that is sticky.
The Bennet Tree in California,6 also known as the Western Jupiter is another important rare tree in North America that you should know. It is estimated to be over 3,000 years old and is actually the fourth-longest living tree on earth.
Can you skip piano grades?
In conclusion, when studying the ABRSM piano grades, it is possible to skip a level or two if you want. However, it's important to remember that...
Also, there is the Wili Wili Coralbean Tree in Hawaii. It is about 40 feet tall and 187 inches wide. It is native to the region. Its flowers can produce several colors, including white, green, salmon, and yellow.
It is deciduous and sheds its leaves in summer. Some years ago, it was endangered because invasive gall wasps attacked it, but Hawaiian officials identified another wasp that stopped the first.
Quinault Lake (Western Redcedar) is a rare tree found in Washington. It was an important tree for earlier Native Americans such that a section of them called themselves “people of the redcedar.”
It provides sails, diapers, and blankets. It is also important for baskets, totems, canoes, clothing, and even shelter. It is a third of the size of General Sherman, measuring 159 feet in height and 761 inches in circumference.
The Valley Oak in California is also a rare tree in North America. It is loved by woodpeckers. It produces acorns and birds drill holes in the bark to create hiding places for hiding food.
You should also know the Limber Pine, which is found in Utah. It looks sturdy but has tough flexible twigs. Americans used it in the 18th and 19th centuries as railroad ties and mine props.
They have a long life and can live up to 2 millennia. They can grow up to 62 feet tall with a circumference of 275 inches.
The Honey Mesquite in Texas produces a yellow seed pod that is eaten by both human beings and animals. Although it is common in Texas, it is rare in the world and can be considered as a national treasure.
It can grow to be 56 feet tall with a circumference of 183 inches.
Bluegum Eucalyptus found in California is another rare tree in North America that you should know about. It has a height of 141 feet and a circumference of 49 feet.
Another Californian rare tree is the California Sycamore. It is rare in the world but common in California. It has a height of 94 feet and a width of 54 feet.
Its age is unknown.
The last rare tree in North America that you should know is the Common Baldcypress found in Louisiana. It measures 96 feet high and 56 feet wide. It is the largest of its species.
Rarest Trees in California
The rarest trees in California are;3
California Sycamore
Bluegum Eucalyptus
Valley Oak
“Bennet” Western Jupiter
“General Sherman” Giant Sequoia
Unique Trees in the World
There are many trees in the world, but there are also unique ones. They are unique because of one or more reasons.
For example, if they are found only in one place on the entire planet. They can also be unique because they have broken a record in terms of size or age. If it is the only of its species remaining in the world, then it is unique.
Some of these trees include;
#8. Areca Palm Tree
It is found in India. It is beautiful and charming and is used to make fragrant potions and spices. It also blackens teeth.
#9. DeadVlei Trees
They are only found in Namibia. They look like skeletons. In the past, they used to really bloom. But scientists established that over 900 years ago, they began to dry up.
Currently, they are over 1,000 years old.
#10. Yoshino Cherry
They are found in Japan. They are also called sakura or Cherry Blossoms. They are a symbol of springtime in the country.
#11. General Sherman
You already know this tree from the rarest trees in North America and the rarest trees in California. One thing to add is that it is named after General William Tecumseh Sherman, who fought in the American Civil War.
#12. Silver Birch Trees
They are found in Finland. There are three species of these trees. They include the Lapland grow dwarf, downy, and silver birches.
#13. Pando Tree
It is found in Utah. Its name is Latin meaning “I spread.” Although it is a single tree, it is an entire colony of aspen trees.
Some tree enthusiasts call it the trembling giant. It is the oldest living organism on Earth.
#14. Kauri Tree
It is found in New Zealand. Scientists say that it is among the mightiest trees in the world. It grows up to a height of 50 meters with a girth of 16 meters.
Kauri forests are very ancient. The Tane Mahita (God of the Forest) is the largest.
#15. Ginkgo Tree
It is found in China. It is estimated to be over 1,400 years old.
It is located in the Zhongnan Mountains within the walls of the Guanyin Buddhist Temple in China. It has green leaves that fall in heaps every autumn. It attracts many tourists to the area.
#16. Baobab Tree
You also know this tree from the rarest trees in the world. You can find it in southern Africa, specifically in Limpopo in South Africa and in Zimbabwe.
They have large trunks that soak moisture during the rainy season. When their flowers bloom, they bring out the sour milk scent. This attracts bush babies and bats to drink the copious nectar.
Is Casio a good brand for digital piano?
Casio has long been one of the best electronic keyboard brands on the market. While they offer some high-end options, they shine most at the...
As you know from before, it is found in Socotra, Yemen. It intercepts moisture from the air and channels it towards its root.
It has medicinal and economic importance though its future survival is uncertain due to climate change.1
Perhaps there is something you can do to help.
Beautiful Exotic Trees
There are many beautiful and exotic trees in the world. Here is a list of some of them;
Dragon Tree, found in the Canary Islands. It is estimated to be between 650 and 1,500 years old. Its canopy of leaves is umbrella-shaped and dense.
Wollemi Pine, found in Australia. It was previously known through old fossils that were estimated to be over 120 million years old. It was almost extinct, but Australia improved its conservation efforts and it now grows all over the country.
Silk Cotton Trees of Ta Prohm are found in Cambodia. Its roots are made of silk cotton. The places that it grows have a romantic and eerie feel.
Tule Tree of Oaxaca found in Mexico. It is a gigantic, knotted, and gnarly cypress. It is estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old.
General Sherman, found in California. Although its largest branch fell off in 2006, this did not affect its status as the largest tree in the world.
Baobab Tree, found in Madagascar. It is estimated to be the oldest life in Africa. It is leafless for the most part of a year.
Wawona “Drive Through” Tree, found in Yosemite National Park in California. An estimated two-ton load of snow killed it in 1969. It was estimated to be over 2,300 years old by then.
Chapel Oak of Allouville-Bellefosse Tree, found in France. It is the oldest tree in the country and people try to protect it. However, it may not last long because the crown seems to be getting smaller each year.
Tree of Life, found in Bahrain. It is estimated to be over 400 years old and it stands alone in a barren desert in the country. Locals believe that its location is the Biblical Garden of Eden and people flock to see it.
Pirangi Cashew Tree, found in Brazil. It is the largest cashew tree in the world as it is on average 80 times bigger. It is estimated to be over 117 years old.
Axel Erlandson’s Circus Tree, found in Santa Cruz in California. It is named after Axel Erlandson, who opened a horticultural attraction in 1947 in the area.
There are two main exotic pine trees in the world.
The first one is the Torrey Pine (Pine torreyana).2 It is the rarest pine tree in the US and one of the rarest trees in the world. It is an endangered species and grows on the San Diego coast.
It also grows in the Channel Islands.
The other main exotic pine tree is the sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana). It is also called sugar cone pine.
It is not just the most massive pine tree in the world. It is also the tallest. Among all conifers, it has the longest cone.
Oldest Tree in the World: Sweden
The oldest recorded tree in the world is in Dalarna Province in Sweden. It is spruce and is estimated to be over 9,550 years old.
It is a tenacious survivor and has endured growing among small bushes and erect trees. Climate change has also not killed it.
Recently Extinct Trees (Extinct in the Wild Trees)
There are many recently extinct trees. The following list gives you 10 of the most fascinating recently extinct trees.
1. Sigilaria
2. Lepidodendron
3. Araucarioxylon arizonicum
4. Araucaria mirabilis
5. Saint Helena Olive
6. Wood’s Cycad
7. Franklinia
8. Cyanea superba
9. Kokia cookie
10. Sephora toromiro
Extinct Trees in America
There are many extinct trees in America. Scientists recently discovered that there are over 65 extinct plants, consisting of 37 perennial herbs, 8 shrubs, 5 small trees, and 15 annual herbs that have not been reported.5
The table below gives you the common and taxonomic names of some of the recently discovered extinct plants in America.
Common Name Taxonomic Name Caddo false foxglove Agalinis caddoensis Franciscan manzanita Arctostaphylos franciscana Sandbar milkvetch Astragalus endopterus Robbins’ milkvetch Astragalus robinsii var. robinsii Hairy wood-mint Blephilia hirsuta var. glabrata N/A Boechera fructicosa Chenopod brickellbush Brickellia chenopodina Point Reyes paintbrush Castilleja leschkeana Palo Alto thistle Cirsium praeteriens Hoovers cryptantha Cryptantha hoover
Now that you have all this information. What will you do to help in protecting the rarest trees in the world?
Frequently Asked Questions About Rarest Trees in the World
Piano Guidance
Photo: Andrea Garibay
Promotion
Promotion
Promotion
Promotion