Kentiopsis pyriformis

Very rare species

Arguably the most beautiful in the genus, this species from rainforests in the very south of New Caledonia forms a slender, smooth trunk to about 16 m (52 ft.) tall. The tall, stunning crownshaft is purplish red to copper colored with a thin white waxy layer. The elegantly arching, pinnate leaves are lightly V-shaped in cross section with very stiff, evenly arranged leaflets that give the leaf a very neat and even outline. In cultivation it does well in tropical and frost free, warm temperate climates, but it is still exceedingly rare. Germination is easy but subsequent growth is rather slow.