Here’s a fun fact about the Coco de Mer… it’s the world’s largest seed and it only grows in the Seychelles! The heaviest weighed 42kg (92 lbs).
Are you curious to learn more interesting facts about Coco de Mer palm tree? Inside this post, you will find other facts about Coco de Mer also known as ‘double coconut’ or ‘love nut’ from Seychelles.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN SEYCHELLES:
• Hilltop Boutique Hotel (I stayed here in Victoria on Mahé)
• Sun Properties & Resort Hotel (I stayed here in Beau Vallon on Mahé)
• Marie Laure Suites (I stayed here in Bel Ombre on Mahé)
• Bambous River Lodge (I stayed here in Bel Ombre on Mahé)
• Palm Beach Hotel (I stayed here in Grand Anse on Praslin)
• Chez Bea (I stayed here in Cote’Or on Praslin)
• Cote D’Or Footprints (upscale stay in Cote D’Or on Praslin)
• La Digue Self Catering Apartments (I stayed here in La Passe on La Digue)
• Le Nautique Waterfront Hotel (perfect beachfront location on La Digue)
• Chalets d’Anse Reunion (perfect paradise stay on La Digue)
TOP EXPERIENCES and TOURS IN SEYCHELLES:
• Mahé: Anse Major hike (I did this fun hike!)
• Mahé: Private Tour on Mahé (I did this)
• Mahé: St. Anne Marine Park with Lunch (I did this!)
• Mahé: Rock pool hike (on my wishlist)
• Mahé: Day trip to Praslin and La Digue (great if you are short on time)
• Praslin: Vallé de Mai and Anse Lazio (I did this!)
• Praslin: cruise to Curieuse and St. Pierre Island (top-rated tour)
• La Digue: Anse Marron (hike to an isolated beach)
• La Digue: Crystal Water Kayaks tour (my favorite!)
Scientifically known as Lodoicea Maldivica, this extraordinary palm tree fascinated people for centuries with its unique shape, resembling a pair of human buttocks or a female pelvis, and its impressive size.
Coco de Mer palm trees are found only on the islands of Praslin and Curieuse but grow fruit only in Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Below you will find 15 fun facts about Coco de Mer – a giant coconut that’s as fascinating as it is rare, showcasing the Seychelles’ unique beauty.
If you know any other facts about this extraordinary seed, feel free to send them to me via email as I’d love to hear them!
FRIENDLY REMINDER
Never leave for a trip without travel insurance. Unexpected issues can arise so I suggest using insurance that covers people from all over the world, while outside their home country. You can buy this travel insurance even if you are already abroad.
Facts about the largest nut in the world
KEY TAKEAWAYS
● Learn some fascinating facts about the largest seed in the plant kingdom or the forbidden fruit that can be found only in the islands in the Indian Ocean.
📌 No time to read? Pin it for later!
List of interesting facts about Coco de Mer
1. It grows naturally only on TWO islands in the world
… and (as you might have guessed) they are both in Seychelles.
Coco de Mer in Seychelles grows naturally only on Praslin and Curioese, which are a couple of kilometers apart. This makes it one of the rarest and most exclusive plants on the planet. The original Garden of Eden or Vallée de Mai reserve on Praslin is also a UNESCO site.
2. The legend of the ‘coconut of the sea’
The name “Coco de Mer,” meaning “coconut of the sea” in French, was given by sailors and pirates long before the tree was discovered in the Seychelles.
Enormous seed nuts were found floating in the ocean or washed ashore with the help of ocean currents on beaches, like the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and India. People believed they grew beneath the sea or came from an underwater tree and named them “Coco de Mer” ok “coconut of the sea”.
Even Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who led the first expedition around the world (1519-1522), mentioned them.
3. Pollination is still not fully understood
The exact method of pollination is still a mystery that scientists are still struggling to solve.
While it is believed that bees and flies play a role, recent studies suggest that most of the pollination is made by geckos and wind. Geckoes feed on the male palm and then carry the pollen to the female who attracts the gecko with a pleasant smell. All of this must happen in 24h time-frame.
4. The male and female trees are different
The Coco de Mer coconut palm is dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female palm trees.
The female tree produces the famous giant seeds, while the male Coco de Mer tree has long catkin-like flowers. The palm trees take around 25 years to reach maturity. Until then, there is no way to distinguish the female and male trees.
5. World’s longest male flower
Male coco de mer has the world’s longest flower that looks like catkin.
The male catkins can reach up to 1 m (3.3 ft) and pollen on them (yellow dots) smells like basmati rice to attract the pollinators.
6. Famous for record-breaking leaves
The leaves are the largest and the ones with the longest life-span in the plant kingdom
Enormous fan-shaped emerald green leaves can be up to 6 m (19.7 ft) long and up to 3 m (10 ft) wide. Beautiful pleated leaves have a remarkable life span of 50 years.
Leaves are designed into a gigantic funnel. This ensures that almost all the rain is channeled down to the base of the trunk and the roots. Organic matter, like pollen and nutrient-rich animal feces, also gets flushed to the bottom of the tree with water, to increase the richness of the soil around the tree.
They provide shade for the forest floor and have traditionally been used by locals for thatching roofs and creating shelter.
7. It is one of the tallest palms in the world
The Coco de Mer palm can grow up to 30 meters (nearly 100 ft) tall.
While this makes it a true giant among palms, it’s still shorter than some of its palm relatives, like the Quindio wax palm in Colombia, which can grow up to 60 meters (nearly 200 feet) tall, making it the tallest palm tree in the world.
8. Coco de mer seed is the world’s largest nut
Nut typically reaches a size of 40-50 cm (15-19 in) in diameter.
The fruit of the Coco de Mer takes between 6 – 10 years to mature after pollination and it takes up to two years to germinate. They generally look like a double coconut seed, but they have a peculiar shape and one might see a resemblance with a pair of human buttocks or a female pelvis.
9. Love nut is the world’s heaviest coconut
Coco de mer nut typically weighs between 15 kg (33 lbs) to 30 kg (66 lbs). The heaviest weighed 42 kg (92 lbs).
10. Female trees can carry a lot of weight (like all moms)
Female Coco de Mer palm tree carries nuts in different stages of growth, with a combined weight of up to 1000 kg (2200 lbs).
11. They have a slow growth but outlive humans
Just like the saying goes “Slow and steady wins the race.”
Coco de Mer trees are slow growers. It takes them from 20-40 years to mature (like humans!?) and can live for hundreds of years. They can live for 200 to 300 years or even longer! Male palm trees live longer than female palm trees.
That means that some of them were already growing and producing nuts before Seychelles were inhabited.
12. Coco de Mer palm can twist and turn
Regardless of the weight the palm is carrying, Coco de Mer palm has a unique ability to twist and sway in strong winds, thanks to its ingenious structure.
The trunk sits in a bowl-shaped base, created by leaves, with a hole that lets the roots pass through, acting like a ball-and-socket joint in the human body. This natural flexibility allows the tree to move with the wind, reducing the risk of breaking.
13. It was traditionally used for medicine and crafts
It was once believed that the nutritious kernel of the Coco de Mer seed is an aphrodisiac. They also offered it to Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, when they were spending their honeymoon in Seychelles.
The nuts and leaves of the Coco de Mer tree have been used in traditional medicine and as materials for handicrafts. Husk, known as “coir” was used for making ropes and crafts and leaves for the thatching roof.
14. Protected Seychelles ‘buttes’ are at risk of extinction
The Coco de Mer is at risk due to overexploitation and habitat destruction.
There are fewer than 8,000 mature trees in the wild, leading the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to list it as “vulnerable.”
To protect this unique species, the Seychelles government has enacted strict laws to prevent further depletion and strict regulations to ensure these iconic palms survive for future generations.
15. You can buy Coco de Mer as a Souvenir!
You can bring home a Coco de Mer nut as a unique souvenir from the Seychelles, but only if it’s purchased from a licensed vendor!
You can only buy a hollow Coco the Mer, and from authorized sellers, like gift shops at the Vallée de Mai, Anse Lazio Restaurant and Bar called Bonbon Plume.
On Mahe, you can buy it at Coco de Mer Collection, from the Seychelles Parks and Garden Authority (SPGA)’s office and the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF)’s office located at La Ciotat building at Mont Fleuri also on Mahe. You can also purchase it online.
Make sure you have an official permit with you, as each nut is given an identification, green label, the government seal, and an export license. You will not be able to leave Seychelles without these or take your nut with you. Do not risk being fined or sent to prison!
If Coco the Mer is too big for your suitcase (or too much for your budget!) there are other great souvenirs to bring home from Seychelles.
ALSO READ:
• Best souvenirs to buy from Seychelles
Final thoughts on fun facts about Coco de Mer
What is the most interesting fact about the Coco de Mer you found out today?
Was it the origin of the name, record-breaking size, the fascinating pollination by geckos, or the cheeky shape? Whatever it was, Coco de Mer is full of surprises!
If you’re planning a trip to the Seychelles, don’t miss out on seeing this legendary palm in person. Come to Praslin Island, and visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Vallée de Mai, where the iconic Coco de Mer thrives. Besides relaxing on stunning Anse Lazio, learning about this fascinating nut is one of the top things to do on Praslin.
Curious to know more? Have a look at other Seychelles facts or perfectly plan your Seychelles vacation with the help of my Seychelles travel guides. Find the best Praslin hotels, the best Praslin Beaches, which Seychelles islands to visit, and many other useful tips.
➤ Read more Seychelles travel guides
• Perfect first-timers Seychelles Itinerary
• How to get to Praslin Island
• Things to do in La Digue
• Best souvenirs from Seychelles
• 101+ Seychelles Captions for Instagram