Which tree species produces the largest seeds?

Which tree species produces the largest seeds? The answer is Lodoicea maldivica, the coco de mer or double coconut palm. Its mature seed is the largest known seed in the plant kingdom, making this Seychelles endemic one of botany’s most extraordinary species.

A coco de mer fruit can take around six to seven years to mature and may weigh 25–45 kilograms. The seed inside can weigh roughly 18 kilograms, with individual records reported at even greater weights. The fruit’s distinctive double-lobed shape inspired its common names, including “double coconut” and “sea coconut.”

Lodoicea maldivica grows naturally on the Seychelles islands of Praslin and Curieuse. Before European explorers identified its true source in 1768, floating nuts found around the Indian Ocean were believed to come from a mythical tree beneath the sea. In reality, viable seeds are too dense to float; only hollow, decayed nuts drift.

The palm is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Its slow reproduction, restricted range, habitat loss, and fire risks have made conservation and controlled trade especially important.