Loneliest Palm
VerifiedHyophorbe amaricaulis
Scientific Classification
Critically Endangered
Extremely high risk of extinction
About This Species
Hyophorbe amaricaulis holds the tragic distinction of being the rarest palm in the world - and possibly the rarest plant on Earth. Only a single individual exists, located in the Curepipe Botanic Gardens in Mauritius.
This solitary specimen, estimated to be approximately 150 years old, was rediscovered in 1942 during a garden survey after the species was thought to be extinct. It is classified as an "endling" - the last known individual of its species.
Physical Characteristics
Distinguishing features:
- Height: Up to 18 meters tall
- Trunk: Tall and slender with a distinctive spindle-shaped swelling
- Crownshaft: Thick, bluish-gray coloration
- Fronds: Stiffly ascending pinnate leaves
The single surviving specimen is now old and requires structural support.
Habitat & Distribution
Natural Habitat
Originally found in the forests of Mauritius. The last wild individual exists in the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden (Curepipe Botanic Gardens) where it is enclosed in a protective structure.
Traditional & Medicinal Uses
Traditional Uses
No traditional uses are documented for this species, which has been extremely rare for over a century.
Medicinal Uses
No documented medicinal uses.
Ecological Role
With only one individual remaining, the species can no longer fulfill its natural ecological role. The palm produces both male and female flowers, but at different times during the flowering season, preventing self-pollination and making natural reproduction impossible.
Conservation
Threats
The species faces functional extinction:
- Only one individual remains
- Self-pollination is impossible due to flower timing
- The specimen is aging and showing signs of decline
- All attempts at propagation have failed
Conservation Efforts
Desperate conservation attempts have been made:
- In vitro propagation attempts in Mauritius (1990s-2000s) - failed at callus stage
- Wye College attempts (1980s) - plantlets died after transplanting
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (2008) - plantlets died after transplanting
- A 2015 research paper issued an urgent international call for advanced interventions including cloning and genetic banking
The single specimen continues to survive but the species' future remains uncertain.
Sources & References
IUCN Red List, Nature Plants Journal, Wikipedia, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Botanic Gardens Conservation International
