Pattaya:Nong Nooch Tropical Garden is currently showcasing the rare sea coconut, also known as the world's largest seed. This unique palm species, originating from the Seychelles Islands, requires 6-7 years to mature before it is ready for harvest.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Kamphol Tansatcha, the President of Nongnuch World Pattaya, led a team in dissecting the sea coconut, or double coconut (Coco de Mer), for the second time this year. This event allowed attendees to closely examine the inner flesh of the coconut and even sample it.
The sea coconut holds a Guinness World Record for its size and has a distinct reproductive process, involving separate male and female trees. Successful fruiting depends on the transfer of pollen from the male to the female flowers. The botany team at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden has successfully performed manual pollination, which is crucial for the fruit's development that spans 6-7 years. Additionally, germination of the seeds takes approximately 2 years.
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden currently hosts a total of 104 sea coconut trees. Out of these, 59 trees are planted in the ground, while 45 are seedlings that are being nurtured for future growth and propagation.