In the center of the coat of arms of the Republic of Seychelles, a palm tree is endemic to the planet. The botanical name of the tree giving the largest nuts, Lodoicea maldivica. Another, more common, name of the plant is the Seychelles palm. Only on the 2 islands of Seychelles (Praslin and Curieuse) can you see tall trees with fan leaves with a span of 3 meters, or even more.
Features
Palm trees are heterosexual: there are female and male trees. When pollen from a male falls on the flowers of a female plant, fruits begin to develop, which takes about 7-10 years to fully mature. Palm trees grow very slowly. It takes six months only to soften the shell. A sprout will appear from the earth in a year. After 7-8 years, you can determine who it is - “boy” or “girl”. At 18, the female palm begins to bloom and the first fruits are tied on it. If there is no male specimen nearby, then the natives solemnly pollinate the plant, cutting off the pestle and bringing it to the opened flowers. For 2 hundred years, palm trees reach a 10-meter height. Those that stretch 30 meters are "a little older" - they are about 8 centuries old. On adult palm trees, there are up to 70 nuts, but they do not ripen at the same time, but gradually. They say that the ripened nut of the Seychelles palm tree falls at night, tearing itself off the tree. But the guards guarding the palm plantations go around in helmets during the day. Although such a precaution is unlikely to save them. The Seychelles nut, whose photo is posted here, does not have the powerful dimensions that individual specimens reach. Up to 25 kg - these are the giants, record holders among the seeds!
What's inside?
The walnut shell is very hard and thick. The composition of the intrauterine pulp is 85% fat, protein 5%, carbohydrate 7%. Energy nutrition - 345 kcal per 100 grams. The Seychelles nut is not particularly praised for its taste: slightly sweet. In addition, the inner contents very quickly acquire the hardness of ivory and the same color. But there may be disagreements - the taste and color, because there are still no comrades. If you are going to visit the Seychelles - try a cocktail made of pulp, it is an exquisite drink offered in restaurants.
Legends of antiquity
Seychelles nut was insanely highly valued in the Middle Ages. In those days of the first acquaintance with the royal nut (it is also marine cocox - coco de mer, double coconut, love nut, Maldivian nut) people endowed it with magical properties - to attract health, wealth, love to the owner: in a word - happiness.
Until the French settled Seychelles, and this happened in the 18th century, no one knew where sea coconut grows. Nuts were nailed by the
sea wave, and therefore assumed that they ripen in the deep sea. To grow something from a nut in another locality did not work. During wanderings in the depths of the ocean (fresh fruits are heavier than sea water and can only move in depths under the force of currents), the core rotted, the nut became light and floated to the surface, hitting either the Maldives or
Java. These were isolated cases. The surviving shell was equal to the volume of gold. Walnut was exchanged for metal by weight or the cavity was covered with coins, jewelry. It is clear that such rulers could only afford the rulers of the world. Ordinary people who dared to hide a nut were ruthlessly chopped off their hands for the first time, and for the next misconduct they took their lives.
Nature jokes
A Seychelles nut ripening on a palm in a shell resembles a heart. Ripe fruits fall to the ground, the shell bursts on them and they are removed. Walnut is transformed beyond recognition - instead of the heart, the lower part of the woman’s body appears. It turns out that the Seychelles in shell has the most erotic appearance. Male trees are not far behind in humorous hints - take a look at the photo. Seychelles is a cheerful people. Here, on the toilet stalls, instead of silhouettes (generally accepted signs), you can see images of the nut and pestle of the Seychelles palm. It is clear: to you there, and to me - here.
Actuality
And now Seychelles nut is a very expensive pleasure, from 150 euros for a small copy. It can only be removed from the islands with permission. Each palm is registered, and on it - each nut is numbered, it has a passport. On the island of Praslin are plantations of Seychelles palm trees, from which annually collect up to 4 thousand pieces of ripe nuts.
The creation of a miracle
With the hands of masters and their aspirations, you can buy a marvel based on a Seychelles nut. A photo of an exclusive box is a confirmation of this. Locals deeply appreciate the gifts of nature. They give each piece of the shell a second life, making useful things out of it - souvenirs, cups, and jewelry. It’s great if such a nut just lies in plain sight in the apartment. What pleasant memories of the earthly paradise, whose temporary visitor was fortunate enough to be, he will inspire with his presence! It is possible that he acquired the magical properties of a talisman, ripening under the equatorial sun.