Coco de Mer or Sea Coconut - on hardwood plinth - Lodoicea maldivica- 330×250×165 mm

The Coco De Mer is one of the most peculiar fruits in the world: it only grows on the islands of Praslin and Curieuse (Seychelles) and looks incredibly like the female genitalia on one side, and like buttocks, on the other. The ripe fruit is very heavy, 15 to 25 kg, so it cannot float on the water, it sinks instead until the flesh inside decomposes, and resurfaces only thanks to the gases inside. Hence the erroneous belief this was the fruit of some unknown marine tree, and also the name ‘sea coconut’. This also explains why this palm has never spread to other islands. This species is currently protected and has become a collector’s item, as it is exported strictly under government control. The profits are used for environmental conservation activities. Coco de Mer size: 270 x 250 x 165 mm Height with stand: 330 mm Weight: 2365 g