Lodoicea, the Sea Coconut

plants · seeds · Seychelles · record-breaker

Enormous seeds. Lodoicea produces the largest seed in the entire plant kingdom. These giant coconuts can weigh up to 55 pounds and take 6 to 10 years just to develop.

Island home. This amazing palm tree grows only on Praslin and Curieuse islands in the Seychelles, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean. Long ago it also lived on a few other nearby small islands.

Unique palm tree. Lodoicea is a monotypic genus, which means there is only one species in its group. It belongs to the palm family, just like coconut palms, but it is truly one of a kind.

Mysterious name. Early sailors found these giant seeds floating in the ocean and called them sea coconuts or coco de mer because they didn't know where they came from. They thought the seeds grew underwater.

Double coconut look. The seed is called a double coconut because it has two lobes that make it look like two coconuts stuck together. This unusual shape makes it instantly recognizable.