Lodoicea maldivica

Lodoicea maldivica inhabits rainforests where there are deep, well-drained soils and open exposed slopes; although growth is reduced on such eroded soils.

The name of the genus Lodoicea was given by Philibert Commerson, without any explanation for its etymology. It may be derived from Lodoicus, a Latinised form of Louis (typically Ludovicus), in honour of King Louis XV, while other sources say that Lodoicea is from Laodice, the daughter of Priam and Hecuba. Lodoicea belongs to the subfamily Coryphoideae and tribe Borasseae. Borasseae is represented by four genera in Madagascar and one in Seychelles out of the seven worldwide. They are distributed on the coasts surrounding the Indian Ocean and the existing islands within. Borassus, the genus closest to Lodoicea, has about five species in the Old World, one species in Africa, one in India, South-East Asia and Malaysia, one in New Guinea and two species in Madagascar.

Lodoicea maldivica is officially classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with only approximately 8,000 wild mature trees left as of 2019. The history of exploitation continues today, and the collection of nuts has virtually stopped all natural regeneration of populations with the exception of the introduced population on Silhouette. This palm has been lost from the wild from three Seychelles islands within its former range. Habitat loss is one of the major threats to the survival of remaining populations, there have been numerous fires on the islands of Praslin and Curieuse, and only immature trees remain over large parts of these islands.

The Seychelles is a World Heritage Site, and a third of the area is now protected. The main populations of Lodoicea maldivica are found within the Praslin and Curieuse National Parks, and the trade in nuts is controlled by the Coco-de-mer (Management) Decree of 1995. Firebreaks also exist at key sites in an effort to prevent devastating fires from sweeping through populations. Cultivated palms are grown on a number of other islands and are widely present in botanic gardens; although the collection of seeds in order to recruit these populations may be a further threat to the remaining natural stands. Conservation priorities are the continued protection of populations, enforcement of regulations and effective fire control. A single cultivated plant at the Botanical Garden of Kolkata, maintained by the Botanical Survey of India, was successfully artificially pollinated in 2015.

The name of the genus Lodoicea was given by Philibert Commerson, without any explanation for its etymology. It may be derived from Lodoicus, a Latinised form of Louis (typically Ludovicus), in honour of King Louis XV, while other sources say that Lodoicea is from Laodice, the daughter of Priam and Hecuba. Lodoicea belongs to the subfamily Coryphoideae and tribe Borasseae. Borasseae is represented by four genera in Madagascar and one in Seychelles out of the seven worldwide. They are distributed on the coasts surrounding the Indian Ocean and the existing islands within. Borassus, the genus closest to Lodoicea, has about five species in the Old World, one species in Africa, one in India, South-East Asia and Malaysia, one in New Guinea and two species in Madagascar.