Lodoicea maldivica, more commonly known as coco de mer, is native to the islands of Praslin and Curieuse in the Seychelles and is famous for producing the world’s largest and heaviest seed.
The coco de mer at the Eden Project has grown from a viable seed, gifted from the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment in the Seychelles and planted by the Eden team in 2003.
The impressive mature leaf on display has taken around ten years to develop to this stage and is approximately four metres in length, making it one of the largest leaves in the Biome and thought to be the first to reach maturity in the country.
Over the next decade, visitors will see the leaf grow even more, with the potential of it reaching a staggering eight to ten metres in size.
A coco de mer has a prolonged life cycle and can live for up to 800 years, reaching up to 112 feet tall.
Leaf size is crucial for the survival of the species, acting as a funnel for water and nutrients to reach the soil. In turn, this assists germination and growth of potential seeds.
Peter Jones, the Eden Project’s director of horticulture, said: “We are thrilled to provide an opportunity for our visitors to see an example of the coco de mer’s majestic leaves in maturity, and in doing so, help tell the story of this incredible plant and the importance of its survival.
“As an educational charity, we are proud to play our part in the conservation of this extraordinary species and look forward to seeing it thrive for many more years to come.”
It has been an exciting few months for the Eden Project’s Rainforest Biome. In June, a baobab tree in the Biome flowered in what is believed to be another first in the UK.
Visitors can discover over 1,000 fascinating varieties of plants in the awe-inspiring space, whilst discovering the importance of rainforests and how they support us all.
For more information on what to see and do at the Eden Project visit www.edenproject.com.
