© Thomas Brendler
Lodoicea maldivica (J.F.Gmelin) Persoon, Borasseae
L. maldivica is the sole member of the genus Lodoicea and endemic to the rainforest on two Seychelles islands, Praslin, and Curieuse. The seeds of this palm have long been famous, both for their size, as well as their resemblance to certain areas of the female anatomy. Before the 18th century, when the Seychelles were uninhabited, the nuts that fell from the trees and ended up in the sea carried away westwards by the prevailing currents. Many drifted to the Maldives where they were gathered and valued as an important trade and medicinal item.
A very large, unarmed, fan palm to about 25 m tall. It is famed for its enormous seeds, which weigh about 20 kg, and are the largest seeds of any plant. The plant is dioecious, the seeds take up to seven years to mature on the plant.
The fruit is used in Ayurvedic medicine and also in traditional Chinese medicine.