Pennantia baylisiana was once listed in the Guiness Book of Records as the world's rarest tree.

The solitary tree was discovered by Professor Geoff Baylis on the Three Kings Islands in 1945. It took 20 years to get cuttings to grow and plants established in cultivation. Another 20 years passed before Dr Ross Beever at Landcare Research, Mt Albert, was able to induce the functionally female flowers to set seed by selectively treating them with plant hormones. This enabled the scant residual pollen to pollinate the female ovaries and he obtained a handful of viable seed which he proceeded to germinate.

From these plants, one (nicknamed Martha) has proved to be particularly fertile and although still positively a female she also has adequate virile pollen to self-fertilise her flowers. In other words, she is both Martha and Arthur - an hermaphrodite, described botanically as gynodioecious.

The search is now for a fully functional male with heaps of viable pollen. If we can find one he will be the saviour of this species which can then rise again from near extinction - an appropriate analogy as his mother was born of a virgin by a kind of immaculate conception (with a little help from technology). There were even three kings in attendance! Pity the species wasn't named after Balthazar, there already being a Kaspar and Melchior resident on the Three Kings Islands. But scientists have had a spot of bother naming the plant believing it to be a member of the Cashew Nut family. Realising their mistake they recognised it belonged to the Pennantia family and thought it identical to the Norfolk Island species Pennantia endlicheri. In time this too was proved inaccurate and it is now named Pennantia baylisiana after its discoverer.

The first seedlings of Pennantia baylisiana were sold at the Ellerslie Flower Show in 2002 at a premium price with all profits going to three conservation groups:

The NZ Native Forests Restoration Trust was founded in 1980 and has in that time planted thousands of trees, and more recently begun acquiring land for making into public reserves. By 2007 the trust had purchased over 5,000 hectares. Their funds are raised by public appeal and when a significant sum has been achieved they then make application for the balance to Government, Lotteries Board or charitable trusts. 24 reserves purchased to date are spread throughout the North Island with one reserve in the South Island. More are to follow.

The Auckland Botanical Society is a long-established group that pursues a study of Auckland's botany. They have a well-deserved reputation for bringing a solid botanical knowledge and insight to many developments occurring in Auckland. Their members are both professional and amateur and they meet regularly to hear guest speakers and also to visit areas of botanical interest. These are predominantly bush and other native habitats but they recognise the importance of understanding the inter-relationships with exotic plant species as well. They maintain the Lucy Cranwell Research Fund with which they support students studying particular aspects of our native flora. It is to this fund that a proportion of the money raised from the sale of the Pennantia is being given.

The Forest & Bird Society is well known, and for more than 75 years has been an advocate for the environment, also encouraging youth with its Kiwi Conservation Club.