Palm Sunday

 You expected it, didn't you?

Seed of the Coco de Mer

Phys.org, On two small islands in the Indian Ocean, an endangered palm with the world's largest seed

Even trees well-known to science have mysteries. One is the Seychelles' endangered coco de mer, or sea coconut palm tree, which is now relegated to parts of two small Indian Ocean islands and in decline. Only some 8,200 individuals remain.

What Lodoicea madivica lacks in range it makes up for in size, which frankly made it very hard for scientists—or anyone—to miss. Its seed can weigh up to 18kg. (Some reports say even heavier.)

The seed's size and "suggestive" shape probably made it popular with collectors and royal courts hundreds of years ago (the species is named after Louis XV of France). To this day, seed poaching for black market demand is a menace to the palm's continued existence.

It takes a phenomenal tree to make a phenomenal seed, so it is little wonder the biology of the giant palm tree is fascinating. The coco de mer's latest surprise, published in Scientific Reports, is that inbreeding doesn't appear to be among its greatest threats, unlike many endangered species across the plant and animal kingdoms. . . 

Linked at The Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Leave Room For Cream ready for business at The Other McCain.