[3] The common name of the plant originates from the Poor Knights Islands on which it was discovered.

The islands, in turn, were so named because of their similarity in shape to the Poor Knights Pudding – a bread-based dish popular at the time of their discovery by Europeans.

[5] The green stalks of Xeronema callistemon start growing vertically, initially sheathed by overlapping leaves.

[1][8] Xeronema callistemon usually grows on rhyolite sea cliffs and rocky outcrops and sometimes in forest.

[7] A related species, Xeronema moorei, is found on the islands of New Caledonia, 1500 km to the northwest.