The playful record holder is the Seychelle nut

In the center of the emblem of the Republic of Seychelles, a palm-endemic planet is depicted. Botanical name of the tree giving the largest nuts, Lodoicea maldivica. Another, more common, the name of the plant is the Seychelles palm tree. Only on the two islands of Seychelles (Praslin and Curious) can you see tall trees with fan leaves in a swing of 3 meters, or even more.

Features

Palms of different sexes: there are female and male trees. When pollen from a male specimen falls on the flowers of a female plant, the fruits begin to develop, until the maturation of which takes 7-10 years. Palms grow very slowly. Only the softening of the shell takes six months. From the ground the sprout will appear in a year. After 7-8 years, you can determine who it is - "boy" or "girl". At the age of 18, a female palm tree starts to bloom and the first fruits are tied up. If there is no male in the vicinity, the aborigines 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 stretched for 30 meters, "a little older" - they are about 8 centuries old. On adult palms, there are up to 70 nuts, but they do not mature at the same time, but gradually. As assure, the nuts of the Seychellois palm tree dropping at night, breaking off independently from the tree. But the guards guarding the palm plantations, and go in the day in helmets. Although such precaution is unlikely to save them. Seychelles, the photo of which is placed here, does not possess the mighty dimensions that individual specimens reach. Up to 25 kg - that's what giants, record holders among the seeds!

What is inside?

The nut shell is very hard and thick. The composition of the fetal flesh is 85% fat, proteins - 5%, carbohydrates - 7%. Energy nutrition is 345 kcal in 100 grams. For the taste of the Seychelle nut is not particularly praised: slightly sweetish. In addition, the internal content very quickly acquires hardness of the elephant bone and the same color. But here there can be disagreements - on taste and color in fact companions till now are not present. It's time to visit the Seychelles - try a cocktail of pulp, this is an exquisite drink offered in restaurants.

Traditions of antiquity

The Seychelles nut was highly valued in the Middle Ages. In those days of the first acquaintance with the royal walnut (coconut coconut coconut, double coconut, love nut, Maldivian nut), people endowed it with magical properties - to bring to the owner health, wealth, love: in one word - happiness.
Up until settling Seychelles by the French, and this happened in the 18th century, no one knew where the sea coconut grows. Nuts were nailed with a sea wave, and therefore they assumed that they ripen in the depths of the sea. To grow out of a nut something in other district it did not turn out. During the wanderings in the depths of the ocean (fresh fruits heavier than sea water and can move only in the depths under the force of currents), the core rotted, the nut became light and floated to the surface, sometimes reaching the coast of the Maldives or the island of Java. These were isolated cases. The surviving shell was equated to the volume of gold. Nut was changed to metal by weight or covered with cavity coins, jewelry. It is clear that such operations could only be afforded by the rulers of the world. Simple people who dared to hide a nut, mercilessly felled their hands - for the first time, and for the next offense they were deprived of life.

Nature is joking

The Seychelles in the shell on the palm tree resemble a heart. Ripe fruits fall to the ground, the shell bursts on them and it is removed. Nut is transformed beyond recognition - instead of the heart, the lower part of the woman's body appears. It turns out that the seichell nut in its shell has the most erotic appearance. Do not lag behind in joking hints and male trees - take a look at the photo. Seychelles - a cheerful people. Here on the toilet booths, instead of silhouettes (generally accepted designations), one can see images of the walnut and pistil of the Seychellois palm. It is clear: you go there, and me - here.

Reality

And now the Seychelles are very expensive, from 150 euros for a small copy. It can be taken from the islands only with permission. Each palm is registered, and on it - each nut is numbered, it has a passport. On the island of Praslin, there are plantations of Seychelles palms, from which up to 4 thousand pieces of ripe nuts are annually harvested.

Creation of a miracle

Hands of masters and their aspirations can buy a miracle, based on the Seychelles. A photo of an exclusive casket is a confirmation of this. Local people deeply appreciate the gifts of nature. Each piece of shell they give a second life, making from it useful things - souvenirs, cups, ornaments. It's great if such a nut will just lie in plain view in the apartment. What pleasant memories of the earthly paradise, whose temporary visitor was lucky to be, he will bring with his presence! It is possible that he acquired the magic properties of the talisman, ripening under the equatorial sun.