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Sea-Beans of the Marshall Islands

These drift seeds were collected in the Marshall Islands.
Anyone know what they are? Contact me!
All photos by N. Vander Velde

NOTE: If the photo has a black border around it, point to it! A "story" will pop up!

I pretty much think the plant and seed casing from Nancy is a Gigasiphon, but cannot be totally sure.  Nancy seemed to agree too. Ed This is a seed that was found washed ashore in the Marshall Islands, kept in a purse until it was noticed that it had sprouted.

The only large Bauhinia monandra on the island is in the front yard of another friend.  I happened to see her this morning and asked her if it ever has seeds.  She said, 'no' -- everyone asks that question because they want to grow one themselves.  So more and more it is looking like our 'monster' came from somewhere in the great yonder.
Gigasiphon sp.
       



  
A. ______

B. Maripa palm, Maximiliana caribaea
pg. 180 World Guide


C. worn Golf Ball, Manicaria saccifera
pg. 190 World Guide

D. ______
Maybe this is the same as D but in a different color, but maybe not.  It is about the right size for Hernandia but it almost certainly is not because it is bumpy not round.
D2. "black, bumpy & small"


Well, E does seems just to represent a variants of Calophyllum so probably something that originated locally.  But in order to answer the question regarding the viability, I went down to an industrial area where there are large Calophylllum trees, and dug out a bunch of the seedlings (I do hope they appreciate my efforts at weeding for them!)  Most were whole seeds but I did finally find the one whose image is attached -- obviously the half form is viable.  It seems that it is just a variance of Calophyllum inophyllum.  I found some very similar ones under a large tree nearby and Jeremy Smith got back to me and agreed that he has found some 'twins' as well.  Too bad the books don't make mention of it.
E. Calophyllum inophyllum
pg. 110 World Guide




F. Manchineel, Hippomane mancinella
pg. 102 World Guide




G. Brazil nut, Bertholletia excelsa
pg. 210 World Guide



I think the two rounds are cycads, but the flat, I still have no idea.
H1: two round seeds = ____________;    H2: two flat seeds = ____________

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