In the mesmerizing Seychelles islands located in the Indian Ocean flourishes a renowned palm that bears the biggest and weightiest seeds globally.
The Lodoicea maldivica palm is a unique species that can only be found on the islands of Praslin and Curieuse in the Seychelles. It belongs to a family of its own and is one of a kind.
In the past, this particular species was present on the smaller islands of St. Pierre, Chauve-Souris, and Ile Ronde close to Praslin. However, it faced extinction in those areas for a while until it was reintroduced recently.
Legend has it that the double coconut possesses healing abilities, although there is no scientific evidence backing this claim. Regardless, the palm tree is still viewed as a fascinating beauty, with individual nuts fetching prices between £500 and £2,000!
Regrettably, the double coconut has also suffered from excessive harvesting like several other plants, leading to a decline in their population. Presently, there are just about 8,000 fully grown wild double coconut trees found on two islands, Praslin and Curieuse. Consequently, the species has been categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
It’s not unexpected that the valuable seeds of this rare palm tree are protected and watched over closely both in their natural habitats as well as in botanical gardens around the world. Some have even gone so far as to lock them up in cages to keep them from being stolen.
There are certain types of palms that have a close connection to the double coconut and yield some of the biggest seeds in the world, surpassing the size of most other palm seeds. However, these seeds are not as big as those of the double coconut which can grow up to 10cm in length.
Scientists might unravel the mysteries behind the production of larger seeds in plants by delving into the study of this fascinating species. Here’s hoping that we will have more insights into this subject in the near future!
