Vallée de Mai is a nature park and UNESCO World Heritage Site on the island of Praslin, Seychelles. It consists of a well-preserved palm forest, flagship species made up of the island endemic coco de mer, as well as five other endemic palms. The coco de mer, a monocot tree in the Arecaceae (palm family), has the largest seeds of any plant in the world. Also unique to the park is its wildlife, including birds such as the rare Seychelles black parrot, mammals, crustaceans, snails, and reptiles. There has been a determined effort to eliminate all the introduced exotic species of plants from the area but this has not been successful in eliminating coffee, pineapple, and ornamental palms thus far.
The “Heart of Praslin” is home to remnants of the original palm jungles of the Seychelles and has often been described as a “Garden of Eden” thanks to its secluded and mystical nature.
The park was placed under protection as far back as 1966, with over 1,400 trees of the legendary Coco de Mer falling under the protection of the Seychelles Government due to their uniqueness and that of the location.
When the Seychelles were part of the supercontinent Gondwana, many years before splitting into today’s existing continents, the area was awash with unique plant and animal diversity that could fortunately be contained by its geographic isolation. Modern conservation measures aim precisely to weed out invasive plant species, as well as those introduced by humans, and to consistently ensure the original character of the valley as home to the Coco de Mer.
It’s possible to follow the traces of prehistory in this pristine jungle area, unchanged for millions of years, and find all six of the endemic palm species that can be found here. The Coco de Mer, the largest seed in the world, is particularly admired by visitors, and is the reason for the National Park’s world heritage site status, which was recognised in 1983 thanks to the Vallée de Mai’s ‘excellent exemplification of a characteristic Seychelles palm forest’.
The Coco de Mer only grows naturally on the islands of Praslin and Curieuse. The oldest specimen of the tree is around 300 years old and 27 m high, with a perfectly straight trunk and large, fan-shaped leaves. The female tree produces a heart-shaped fruit of up to 25 kg, the largest and heaviest seeds in the world. It is so large and heavy that it cannot be carried by animals, while if it falls in water, it is both spoiled, and it sinks. Because of its distinct shape, reminiscent of a woman’s pelvic region, the seed once enjoyed a reputation as a coveted treasure in former royal courts.
Even today, the Coco de Mer is precious as a souvenir. In terms of the erotic nature of the plant, the male species is equally striking: phallic shapes rise many feet from the leafy crowns, so it is no wonder that many suggest that the male and female plants pair off together at night.
