The claim to fame for Praslin island is the Vallee De Mai, which is a nature preserve and boasts one of the only places that the Coco de Mer tree grows. It's a kind of nut tree with some unique characteristics.
A female Coco de Mer tree.
A male Coco de Mer tree . . . see what I mean? :)
And this is the nut that can take many years to fully form. A nut this size can sell for upwards of $10,000! Not sure I'd want one even at a substantial discount.
These are the roots of the tree that help capture water but also keep the trunk from breaking in a strong wind. Unlike coconut palms, the Coco de Mer's trunk doesn't bend in the wind so this root system helps.
This isn't the Coco de Mer, but another dangerous looking plant all equipped to fight off predators. There was so much to learn and see, we wished we would have had more time in the park.
A scenic view of Praslin island.
And our last stop at the beach - this time with the tide in so we could go swimming.
- It has a male and female version of the tree, and once you see the photos, you'll see how easy it is to tell them apart. :)
- A single coco de mer nut can take many years to form so they are considered rare and expensive.
- They get their name (Coconut of the sea) because apparently the nut washed up on shore so the islanders thought it had come from a tree that grew under the ocean.
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