''Cynometra psilogyne'' (synonym ''Maniltoa psilogyne'') is a

rainforest Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree Canopy (biology), canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropi ...

tree native to

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...

, belonging to the family

Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomen ...

. Its young once-

pinnate Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis. Pinnation occurs in biological morphology, in crystals, such as some forms of ice or metal crystals, and ...

leaves are pure white and hang down limply at first. They grow to a length of in as many hours.Encyclopaedia of Papua New Guinea - Volume 2, Melbourne: University of Papua New Guinea p. 1128 These white leaves are why it is commonly called the handkerchief tree. After about three days the leaves become erect and green.

References

Flora of New Guinea psilogyne Plants described in 2019 {{Detarioideae-stub