The Coco de Mer is a giant palm tree found only in the island nation of Seychelles. Before the 18th century, the palm was known only by its seeds, which used to float from the then uninhabited region to the Maldives. These seeds were known by various racy names, including the “bum seed,” a name given by sailors because their double shape reminded them of a woman’s rear end.
When Victorian explorers discovered the palms in the Seychelles, they were …
