Rare palm’s 13ft leaf thought to be UK’s largest

A rare and endangered palm at the Eden Project is thought to have made botanical history by producing the UK’s largest mature leaf of its kind, about 13ft (4m) long.

The coco de mer, native to the Seychelles, was grown from a seed in the Cornwall attraction’s rainforest biome.

The seed, given by the Seychelles Ministry of Agriculture in 2003, has now developed into a plant with a massive mature leaf.

Over the next decade, the leaf could grow to 8-10m long, the Eden Project said.

It marks what is believed to be the first time a coco de mer leaf has reached maturity in the UK.

Peter Jones, Eden’s director of horticulture, said: “We are thrilled to showcase this majestic leaf and share the story of the coco de mer’s survival.

“As an educational charity, we’re proud to contribute to the conservation of this extraordinary species.”

The palm’s giant leaves play a vital role in its ecosystem, channelling water and nutrients to the soil to support seed germination.

This achievement comes after a baobab tree flowered in the tropical biome in June.