There are some trees that only grow in certain countries of the world since the habitats in which they grow are endemic to these countries.
So, when we say “rarest trees in the world”, what we mean is that these trees belong to little-known species, have few specimens, and are often in danger of extinction due to the destruction or deterioration of their habitats.
If you want to know which are the 7 rarest species in the world, stay tuned and we’ll show them to you.
Top 7 of the rarest trees in the world
7. African blackwood tree (Granadillo negro)
Scientific name
Dalbergia melanoxylon.
Location
This species is native to the African continent and can be found in approximately 26 countries:
- Senegal.
- Sudan.
- Uganda.
- Tanzania.
- Ethiopia.
- Eritrea.
General information
The black Granadillo receives its name from the color of its wood: it is very dark. Its coloring ranges from very dark brown to black.
Also, the tree is between 4 and 15 meters high.
In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the wood of the tree as it has very good quality and is naturally very resistant.
However, the granadillo is a very slow-growing tree, which means that its supply has not been matched by market demand, so guess what? Its price is ” sky high”.
So much so that black Granadillo wood is the most expensive in the world.
Conservation status
According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the Black Granadillo is close to threatened, which means that it is close to becoming a vulnerable species in a few years.
The truth is that some researchers affirm that the number of Granadillo specimens is rapidly decreasing due to illegal logging.
In addition, we must add the fact that its habitat has also been affected by increased agriculture and cattle ranching.
This is because the Granadillo grows in rocky and infertile soils.
Therefore, the fertilizers used in agriculture cause the tree to have growth problems, while cattle can eat its leaves and destroy its branches.
Therefore, urgent action is needed to protect the species, but no one has so far taken the initiative to do so, which puts the tree’s survival at risk.
6. Saint Helena Gumwood Tree
Scientific name
Commidendrum robustum.
Location
This species is native to Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan de Acuna islands in the South Atlantic, i.e. the 3 most remote islands in the world.
That is, they are the farthest places from any other inhabited point on the planet.
To give you an idea of the remoteness of this tree’s habitat, let us tell you that it was on the island of St. Helena where Napoleon Bonaparte was sentenced to exile in the 19th century.
In general, Goma trees are small (between 7 and 8 meters high) and grow in the elevated areas of the island.
At the same time, these trees are described as very beautiful specimens as their crown (the upper part of the tree) fills with white flowers when they bloom, giving the plant a white “umbrella” appearance.
Overall
Although the species has few specimens today, it was once abundant on the islands of the South Atlantic.
Then, at that time the colonists of the British East India Company settled in those territories and began strong deforestation of the species, using the wood as fuel, i.e. they burned it to extract charcoal.
Conservation status
According to the IUCN, the St. Helena Gum is a critically endangered species, which means that it is at high risk of extinction in its natural habitat.
In addition, in the early 1990s, the species was attacked by an insect infestation that killed many trees and made others more prone to fungal infections.
These two disasters drastically reduced the number of specimens of the species.
5. “Monkey Puzzle” tree or Chilean Pine
Scientific name
Araucaria araucana
Location
Native to Chile and Argentina, this species is a member of the Araucariaceae family.
Overall
The Chilean Pine is a very old species whose origin dates back to around 200 million years ago and during that time it has hardly changed, which is why it is called a “living fossil”.
It is also a very long-lived species that can reach 1,000 years of life and, due to the fact that it has grown near volcanoes for millions of years, the bark of its trunk has become resistant to fire.
At the same time, the Chilean Pine can reach up to 40 meters in height and produces very good quality wood that is widely used in construction.
Curious fact
This tree became a very popular species in Europe where it was introduced in the 19th century for the “prehistoric ” aspect of its branches.
Because of this, the Chile Pine became a species widely used as an ornamental tree.
But, where does the name “monkey puzzle” come from?
There are several explanations for the origin of this tree.
One of the most accepted ones says that the Chile Pine could confuse even a monkey when it tried to climb it due to the wavy and intricate appearance of its branches.
Apparently, the idea became so popular that the tree became better known in Europe by its popular name “Monkey Puzzle” than by its real name Chile Pine.
Conservation status
Although it is a protected species, the Chilean Pine is endangered according to the IUCN.
This is due to a combination of the following factors:
- Illegal logging of forests.
- Harmful effects of mining since the waste from this industry ends up in the rivers, contaminating the water that nourishes the soil where the tree grows.
- The use of fertilizers in the soil for agriculture, so the soil is no longer suitable for the normal growth of the tree.
- The introduction of animals (cattle, sheep, etc.) can destroy the tree’s integrity.
- Fires of human origin (someone causes fires that get out of control) and many specimens are lost.
Fires are especially serious since, despite its fire-resistant bark, the Chilean Pine does not regenerate easily or quickly, making the survival of the species very difficult.
In addition, as if all of the above were not enough, in Argentina, where this species is also present, there has been a very significant deterioration in the number of trees.
There, exotic species have been introduced (which are more profitable) and they compete for resources with the Monkey Puzzle, which almost always loses the battle and ends up dying.
4. Tree of Life or Baobab Tree (African Baobab Tree)
Scientific name
Adansonia spp.
Location
This tree can be found natively in countries such as:
- Madagascar (home to 6 of the 9 species).
- South Africa.
- Zimbabwe.
- Australia (only one species which is the least known).
Overall
The term Adansonia spp groups several species of the Malvaceae family; all of them are known under the name Baobab.
The tree of life can reach a height of 30 meters and its trunk can have a diameter of between 3 and 14 meters, making it one of the trees with the widest trunk.
Likewise, this tree is another example of a prehistoric species, estimated to have originated approximately 200 million years ago.
In addition, there are reports that the Baobab can live up to 5,000 years, although there are no living specimens of such antiquity.
This tree is highly valued in Africa for its fruit, which is said to have a high vitamin content.
So much so that the fruit of the Baobab is estimated to have more vitamin C than an orange, as well as a high content of calcium, phosphorous, iron, antioxidants, magnesium, and vitamin B.
In fact, a powder extracted from the fruit is used to make various foods such as preserves, sauces, and juices.
This has turned the fruit into an export product sold mainly in Europe and North America, contributing to the economy of local communities.
That is why the tree is known as the tree of life in African folklore.
Conservation status
In general, the 9 species of Adansonia are at risk, and some are even on the verge of extinction. Due to factors such as cattle ranching, agriculture and climate change.
The problem is that some lands that were once the Baobab’s natural territory are now used for agriculture.
As a result, the tree’s populations are split up, making reproduction very difficult as they do not have contiguous land where they can disseminate their seeds.
Likewise, the constant presence of humans in agricultural fields drives away wildlife that can also spread the tree’s seeds, so the number of specimens has been drastically reduced.
On the other hand, another negative effect of land use in agriculture is that as populations begin to cultivate, they cut down the trees they find to use the space.
In other words, some trees cannot reproduce because they cannot spread their seeds and others are cut down.
Not to mention that the Baobab tree stores a lot of water in its trunk that is useful for animals in the dry season, because they can hydrate from the bark of the tree. In other words, the animals suffer from the drought if the tree is no longer there.
However, the wood that has been cut down is used as a building material. By now it is known that in South Africa the tree is a protected species, but unfortunately in other countries, not many efforts are made to protect the Baobab population.
3. Socotra dragon tree
Scientific name
Dracaena cinnabari.
Location
The Dragon tree is native to Africa and is found in countries such as:
- Socotra archipelago that is in the geographical space of Africa but belongs to Yemen, an Asian country.
- Morocco.
- Cape Verde.
- Canary Islands.
Overall
The Draco is so named because it produces blood-red sap, often used to make incense.
The dragon tree reaches an average height of 9 meters.
In addition to this, it has a very peculiar appearance because its crown (the upper part of the tree) is shaped like an umbrella.
Therefore, the leaves absorb the water present in the air so that it then reaches the roots and keeps them hydrated.
In addition, given the compact distribution of the tree’s canopy, where all its leaves are tightly grouped together, more water can be stored during the rainy season, helping the tree to resist longer without the liquid.
Conservation status
According to the IUCN, the Socotra dragon is an endangered species, especially due to human presence and grazing in the tree’s habitat.
In fact, rabbits and goats are a direct threat to the tree as they eat the bark and expose it, which is when people see its red sap and claim it looks like the blood of a dragon.
So, there has been a lot of mysticism about the supposed properties of the tree. As a result, many alchemists and sorcerers have used it for centuries.
Likewise, climate change has worsened the natural drought conditions on the island.
Therefore, it is not uncommon that fires form due to high temperatures, which obviously affects the survival of the species.
However, an international project to conserve the species is underway, especially since Socotra was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2008.
2. Bois Dentelle tree (Lace Wood)
Scientific name
Elaeocarpus bojeri
Location
Bois Dentelle is native to Mauritius, an island located in the Indian Ocean.
Overall
This is unquestionably one of the rarest tree species on the planet. The Bois Dentelle grows in the forests of Mauritius and is characterized by its white bell-shaped flowers.
Conservation status
According to the IUCN, the Bois Dentelle is a critically endangered species.
But unlike other species that are equally threatened, the Bois dentelle is on the verge of disappearing. Not because it has been overexploited to satisfy the demand for wood or because of its multiple applications, but quite the contrary.
It has no practical applications, so historically the tree has been systematically felled to introduce other plant species more profitable and useful to humans.
In fact, there are currently only 2 specimens in the wild.
Indeed, they don’t have it easy: they have to compete for resources with other non-native species such as the Guava tree that grows in commercial plantations close to their habitat.
However, the Mauritian Ministry of Agriculture and Wildlife has begun to take measures in an attempt to save this species.
In turn, the Bois Dentelle has begun to reproduce successfully in a laboratory and there are already some small plants that are growing well. The problem is that it is not known if they could survive in the wild.
It is also hoped that this plant becomes a tourist attraction because of its beauty and therefore can obtain economic income from its sighting (since it seems that a species will only be safe if it produces money for someone).
1. Three Kings Tree or Kaikomako (Three Kings Kaikomako)
Scientific name
Pennantia baylisiana
Location
This tree is only found on the island of the Three Kings in New Zealand.
Overall
The Three Kings tree is considered the rarest plant in the world as in fact there is only 1 living specimen and it is a female specimen so natural reproduction is not possible.
In fact, the species holds the Guinness record for being the rarest one on the planet.
The Kaikomako is a small plant with multiple trunks; the tree has very shiny wavy leaves and its white and green flowers grow between October and November.
Conservation status
According to the IUCN, this species is critically endangered in its natural habitat.
Goats have been the main threat to the species, as they devour their branches and leaves. Although it must be said that the government has reduced the practice of grazing on the island.
On the other hand, the rugged climate of the islands, which varies between strong storms and droughts, only makes it more difficult for the species to survive.
However, despite all the difficulties faced by the plant in its natural habitat, some botanical gardens around the world have managed to plant some Kaikomako fruits hoping to obtain more viable specimens of the tree.