The 14 branches coconut palm from Maalhos island, Baa, in Maldives, an extinct world record...



Picture published by Afrah Mohamed

This palm was producing green fruits. It was still alive in 2010. Unfortunately, it was dead four years ago when another photographer visited the site in 2014. 

The same palm photographed in 2014.

This coconut palm held the world record for the number of trunks on the same tree, but it no longer exists. No one bothered to saw off the trunk, dry it and keep it, even though this trunk would have had its place in a museum! it is also possible, if the tree begins to die, to cut out certain branches and try to replant them by halving the leaves to reduce evapotranspiration. Sometimes roots appear at the base and the branch can survive...
According to Eydhafushi times (June, 22, 2015) traders from three islands of Baa atoll said that every day more than 1,000 young coconuts (locally known as ‘kurumba’) is sold to some islands of the atoll and to the federal capital Male’. Kendhoo, Kamadhoo and Maalhos, which grows coconut palms, exported 300 to 500 young coconuts during the past three days to the atoll and Male’. Traders said that the price of a young coconut in Baa atoll’s capital island Eydhafushi currently stand at more than MVR 15 (USD 1).

A trader from Maalhos predicted that around 500 young coconuts can be produced daily from the island during the first 10 days of Ramadan which is underway. However, supplies are expected to drop after that, he said. Farmers from Kamadhoo and Kendhoo said that though the price can be sustained, the supply will decrease during the latter days of the Islamic fasting month.