The Biggest Seeds in the World
The Coco de mer palm, native to the Seychelles off the coast of Africa, has the largest seed in the plant kingdom. A single one of the plant’s seeds can weigh between 30 and 55 pounds, and this also makes them the heaviest in the world. But this fascinating plant has some other secrets that are just as fascinating as the size of its seeds.
The Coco de mer palm grows on only two islands in the Seychelles; Praslin and Curieuse. The name means “coconut of the sea” because it was once believed they grew underneath the water at the bottom of the ocean. The palms actually grow on dry land but in soil that is lacking in vital nutrients for plant growth such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Even with these less than ideal conditions, these palms are able to produce seeds that are gigantic.
One way the Coco de mer has achieved this feat is by how they use the available nutrients for growth. The leaves were found by researchers to have only one-third of the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus as compared to other plants growing on the islands. In addition, the plant reabsorbs the nutrients from the leaves when they become old before they drop to the ground. This means that less energy is lost in the leaves…
