Lodoiceea maldivica - Seychellenpalme

One of the best -known landmarks of the Seychelles is the so -called Coco de Mer (Seychelle palm). This is an endemic fan palm species that occurs exclusively on the islands of Praslin and Curieuse.

Characteristics and distribution

It grows on Praslin in the so -called Vallée de Mai, the rest of an original palm forest. This is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a two-house plant, only male and exclusively female specimens exist in the Seychelle palm. The female palm carries the heart -shaped fruit with the seeds weighing up to 25 kg.

Multiplication

These represent the largest and heaviest seeds in the plant kingdom. They cannot be carried away by animals, nor are they swimming in the water. The germination usually takes place right next to the mother plant. Coco de Mer can reach growth heights of over 25 m. The oldest known copy is estimated at 300 years.