Coco de mer’s hanging leaves game-changer in forest ecology and conservation strategies   |07 April 2025

Dead leaf material accumulation on forest floor (Photo: Sebastian Mühlig)

A pioneering study has revealed that the coco de mer palm (Lodoicea maldivica) retains its dead leaves for up to three years before shedding them. This phenomenon, known as marcescence, occurs when dead plant parts, such as leaves, remain attached to the plant for an extended period instead of falling off immediately. Marcescence has significant implications on the forest's ecology, nutrient cycles, and fire risk.

The research found that nearly half of the dead leaf material in the coco de mer palm forests of the Vallée de Mai remains suspended in the trees, unlike in other tropical forests where leaves fall to the ground as soon as they senesce. This retention of dead leaves in the canopy is one of several unusual features of coco de mer that create the unique ecological environment of the Vallée de Mai. Dead leaves of the coco de mer are poor in nutrients, having exceptionally low levels of phosphorus and nitrogen compared to other tropical forests, which significantly slows their decomposition. For example, during the period they remain attached to the tree, dead leaves only lose about one quarter of their dry weight. Additionally, the arrangement of the leaves around the trunk forms makes the coco de mer a gigantic funnel that directs water down the trunk while drying out the surrounding forest floor, which also delays decomposition.

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