Coco-de-Mer, Double Coconut, Sea Coconut palm

Where does Coco-de-Mer grow?

Found in: Africa, Asia, Australia, China, Guyana, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, North Africa, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Seychelles, Singapore, South America, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Notes: There is only one Lodoicea species.

Status: It is available dried in Chinese stores in Australia.

Growing Coco-de-Mer, Double Coconut, Sea Coconut palm

Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. Seed may take 6-18 months. Seed need to be sown in their permanent position because they have a long sinker which may go 4 m deep. To overcome this problem in nurseries people stack several bottomless pots on top of each other.

Edible Uses: The unripe kernel and the crown of the trunk are eaten. They are also preserved in vinegar. The young immature nuts are eaten. The juice from the fruit pulp is eaten with sugar and cassa meal. The pulp yields an edible oil.

Production: They are slow growing. Plants can grow 30-60 years before flowering. Fruit take 5-7 years to mature on the plant. The time can also be half this. A fruit can weigh 20 kg.

Nutrition Info

Coco-de-Mer, Double Coconut, Sea Coconut palm Photos

References

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Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 87 (As Lodoicea callipyge)

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Syn. pl. 2(2):630. 1807 (ex H. Wendl. in O. C. E. M. G. de Kerchove de Denterghem, Palmiers 250. 1878)

Wickens, G.E., 1995, Edible Nuts. FAO Non-wood forest products. FAO, Rome. p167

Wong, M., 2006, Edible Plants for Hawai'i Landscapes. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Univ. of Hawai'i

World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew