While the functional characteristics of "Lodoicea" are similar to other trees of monodominant forests in the humid tropics, its unique features include a huge seed, effective funnelling mechanism and diverse community of closely associated animals. These attributes suggest a long evolutionary history under relatively stable conditions. Of the six monospecific endemic palms in Seychelles, "Lodoicea" is the "only true case of island gigantism among Seychelles flowering plants, a unique feature of Seychelles vegetation". It holds five botanical records: It produces the largest wild fruit so far recorded, weighing up to 42 kg,(although domesticated pumpkins and watermelons can be much heavier); the mature seeds weighing up to 17.6 kg are the world's heaviest, The seed upon germinating, produces the longest known cotyledon, up to four meters (13 feet). The female flowers are the largest of any palm. and Lodoicea is the most efficient plant known at recovering nutrients from moribund leaves.