Rumble: The most erotic of all plants: Coco de Mer
As soon as we landed in the Seychelles, we saw displays of one of their national symbols: the unique Seychellois coconut: the "Cocofesse" or "Coco de Mer".
Coco de mer seed[i-Coco de mer seed]
For centuries these unique coconuts washed ashore on the beaches of India, Maldives and Sri Lanka. The suggestive shape of the world's largest plant seed - about 40-50 cm diameter, weighing up to 20 kg - made it famous, and they were sold the world over as a symbol of fertility. They were often expensively decorated with gems, gold and silver becoming the prized possession of kings and rulers.
Coco de mer seed[i-Coco de mer seed]
Originally, this coconut was thought to be the fruit of enormous trees that grew underwater in the great whirlpool of the oceans, and were therefor called "Sea Coconuts" - "Coco de mer". It was not until 1768 when the first actual Cocofesse plants were discovered on the Seychelles: A surveyor aboard the French vessel "Marion Dufresne" found the trees on the island of Praslin, and brought them back with him to Mauritius.
Female Coco de Mer plant in Vallee de Mai on Praslin[i-Female Coco de Mer plant in Vallee de Mai on Praslin]
The Cocofesse has a male and a female plant. They are the largest palm tree in the world: the male goes up to 30m, and the female to 24m high.
Coco de Mer catkin[i-Coco de Mer catkin]
The male catkin -once again an erotic symbol- can be as thick as a person's arm and grow 50 cm long.
The seed itself grows for 6-7 years in a husk, after which it falls on the ground where it lays dormant for about six months.
Coco de Mer[i-Coco de Mer]
It takes one year after germination before the first leaf appears from the seed. The young Coco de Mer palms can reach 14 meters and are nothing but massive leaves, as it takes about 15 years before the first signs of a trunk appears. It takes 20 to 40 years before the plant is mature. A tree can grow for 200 to 400 years.
The girls in Vallee de Mai[i-The girls in Vallee de Mai]
The haven of the Coco de Mer palms is the Vallee de Mai on Praslin, a nature reserve and one of the smallest UNESCO World Heritage sites.
As the male palm is much taller than the female, it often seems like it protects its 'mate'. Locals legends say that when the moon is full, the male moves over to the female and they make love. No-one has ever reported this first hand, as the story goes, if you witness it you are instantly turned into a black parrot.
Coco de Mer with Frangipani, picture taken by Lana[i-Coco de Mer with Frangipani, picture taken by Lana]
More posts on the Road about the Seychelles.
First two pictures courtesy brlsi.org and wikipedia
Rumble: Seychelles fauna and flora
The Seychelles feature a lush vegetation with a large variety of different plants, flowers and trees, some unique to these islands. Everywhere we went during our trip, we were presented with colours and scents. No wonder earlier settlers described the Seychelles as 'the true Garden of Eden'
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A view at the Vallee de Maie on Praslin.
Lusher than this, it does not get.
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In the Vallee de Maie on Praslin.
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Giant Coco de Mer palmtrees are unique for the Seychelles, and one of their national symbols. More about this tree in a later post.
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Mangroove forest on La Curieuse near Praslin
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Hannah loved collecting these frangipani flowers.
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More frangipani flowers
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Lana took this interesting close-up from an orchid we found growing in the forest.
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More flowery bushes along the road.
Elizabeth, our resident tropical flower expert, says these are bougainvillae.
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Reminded us of Hawaii.
They are called "Heliconia", according to Betty.
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Wild Roses. You can almost smell them, can't you?
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The name, I don't know, but we surely enjoyed them!
(Betty thinks this might be a Dendobrium orchid.)
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Ditto. "Would it be a kind of ginger?", Betty asks.
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And more! Another kind of ginger?
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And more! A Periwinckle?
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And more! - Betty says: "Hibiscus!"
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The variety of flowers we found, just did not stop. More Hibiscus
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We did not have to go far to step into the "jungle", as the girls called it... A view from the back hotel room...
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You wanted more?
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Guess I should stop now, hey?
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Bamboo too!
More posts on the Road about the Seychelles.
Rumble: Seychelles animals
The Seychelles feature an amazing variety of wildlife. We snapped a few:
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A Small Seychelles Day Gecko interested in literature.
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A pigeon interested in our breakfast crumbs
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Another visitor, this time at the dinner table at Anse Lazio on Praslin
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Hannah with one of the giant land turtoises on La Curieuse
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A couple of fairy terns on Cousin island. Fairy terns are mates for life.
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A small chick on Cousin island
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Hannah with a small land turtoise on La Curieuse
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A close-up from a baby land turtoise on La Curieuse
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Lana and Hannah checking out a small land turtoise on La Curieuse
More posts on the Road about the Seychelles.
Rumble: Sights of the Seychelles
The Seychelles is one of the most beautiful countries we ever visited. Here is a picture impression of the beaches and coastlines:
Anse aux Courbes on Mahe (Seychelles)[i-Anse aux Courbes on Mahe (Seychelles)]
Anse aux Courbes on Mahe
Anse d'Argent on La Digue (Seychelles)[i-Anse d'Argent on La Digue (Seychelles)]
Anse d'Argent on La Digue, said to be the most beautiful beach in the world.
Union Reserve on La Digue (Seychelles)[i-Union Reserve on La Digue (Seychelles)]
Union Reserve on La Digue
Granite rocks on the North of La Digue (Seychelles)[i-Granite rocks on the North of La Digue (Seychelles)]
Granite rocks on the North of La Digue
St.Pierre Islet near Praslin (Seychelles)[i-St.Pierre Islet near Praslin (Seychelles)]
St.Pierre Islet near Paslin
Anse aux Courbes on Mahe (Seychelles)[i-Anse aux Courbes on Mahe (Seychelles)]
Anse aux Courbes on Mahe
Anse Takamaka on Mahe (Seychelles)[i-Anse Takamaka on Mahe (Seychelles)]
Anse Takamaka on Mahe
Port Glaud on Mahe (Seychelles)[i-Port Glaud on Mahe (Seychelles)]
Port Glaud on Mahe
Boats in the lagune near Port Glaud on Mahe (Seychelles)[i-Boats in the lagune near Port Glaud on Mahe (Seychelles)]
Boats in the lagune near Port Glaud on Mahe
Sunset on Anse Beauvallon on Mahe (Seychelles)[i-Sunset on Anse Beauvallon on Mahe (Seychelles)]
Sunset on Anse Beauvallon on Mahe
Near La Passe on La Digue (Seychelles)[i-Near La Passe on La Digue (Seychelles)]
Near La Passe on La Digue
Our boat at Anse Lazio on Praslin (Seychelles)[i-Our boat at Anse Lazio on Praslin (Seychelles)]
Our boat at Anse Lazio on Praslin
Pulling a dinghy into the water at Cousin Island near Praslin (Seychelles)[i-Pulling a dinghy into the water at Cousin Island near Praslin (Seychelles)]
Pulling a dinghy into the water at Cousin Island near Praslin. And yes, we had some pretty cloudy and windy days!!
Anse Volbert on Praslin (Seychelles)[i-Anse Volbert on Praslin (Seychelles)]
Having lunch at Anse Volbert on Praslin.
Granite rocks near La Reserve on Praslin[i-Granite rocks near La Reserve on Praslin]
Granite rocks near La Reserve on Praslin
Anse Volbert near Praslin (Seychelles)[i-Anse Volbert near Praslin (Seychelles)]
Our dinghy on Anse Volbert near Praslin. Not shown: Raoul, the guy who had to sit near the dinghy ensuring no-one would run off with parts of the engine.
PS: Raoul still owes me 20 Euro!
Light beacon near La Reserve on Praslin[i-Light beacon near La Reserve on Praslin]
Light beacon near La Reserve on Praslin
Lagune near Port Glaud on Mahe (Seychelles)[i-Lagune near Port Glaud on Mahe (Seychelles)]
Lagune near Port Glaud on Mahe
More posts on the Road about the Seychelles.