Lodoicea maldivica aka Seychelles Nut

Lodoicea maldivica is a palm in the Arecaceae family. Its names include coco-de-mer, double coconut palm, and sea coconut palm. It grows wild only on Praslin and Curieuse in Seychelles. There, it lives in rainforest with a wet tropical climate. This evergreen tree grows slowly and has no spines. Its huge seeds are the largest of any living plant.

Published heights range from about 66–100 feet [20–30.48 metres]. Some mature trees rise above 100 feet [30.48 metres]. The listed garden spread reaches 60 feet [18.29 metres]. A single, straight, grey trunk holds a crown of fan-shaped leaves. Each leaf can reach 30 feet [9.14 metres] long. Leaves can also span 15 feet [4.57 metres] across. These vast leaves and its broad crown define its form.

Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. The male flowers are purple and form catkin-like clusters. Female flowers are green-brown. The source describes flowering as seasonal, without naming specific months. Both sexes must grow together to produce fruit and seeds. Young palms may need at least 20 years before fruiting. Fruit can then take seven years to mature. Each fruit holds a large seed with two lobes. Seeds weigh around 44 pounds, with reports above 50 pounds. The large fruit adds to the tree's value as a specimen.

This palm needs heat and suits warm tropical gardens. Grow it in full sun and soil that drains well. Keep the soil evenly moist; its listed water need is moderate. It can grow in a range of soil conditions. Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA zones 10–12. Its care notes set the lower limit at zone 10b. Seeds need sowing where the tree will remain. They send a downward sinker about 13 feet [4 metres] long. Protected status and slow growth make plants hard to obtain. Botanical gardens offer places to see mature trees. The garden source reports no major pest or disease problems.

People eat the seed's endosperm, including its sweet, jelly-like immature tissue. They also eat the terminal bud, but removal kills the palm. Young leaves serve as stuffing. Hard fruit shells become bowls, plates, and drinking vessels. Leaves supply material for hats, baskets, roofs, and walls. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known hazards or medicinal uses. Excess nut collection has greatly reduced new wild plants. Fire also threatens the species. That source reports a Vulnerable listing from 2011.