Palm talkers - I need an advice

[palmfriend]

 

Hi there,

I found this one on the Japanese internet (not for the first time) and I am willing to 

accept the challenge this time since I would love to give this species a try over here. 

As you can see, the current bet for one seed is 16.000 Japanese Yen(appr. 150$) which is still very

effortable and I am willing to go much way higher this time.

(My bet is already placed and I am currently the one with the highest offer...) 

But I am sure there are a few things I should be careful about when purchasing a Lodoicea maldivica seed

in general and finally what would be a reasonable price I should go for is what I am asking our pt-community

with this thread.

If you have any hints, experiences and suggestions to share - I would appreciate it!

The auction is still open for another four days so there is still time to react...

Please let me know what you think -

best regards from Okinawa 

Lars

 

 

[rhapis]

Price is still cheap but if you want to grow and reproduce you need a male and a female tree

[palmfriend]

7 minutes ago, rhapis said:

Price is still cheap but if you want to grow and reproduce you need a male and a female tree

Thanks, 

I am aware of that - trying to reproduce this species would be a different story...

This time I would try to grow it just out of curiosity and for the love of this remarkable species. 

best regards -

Lars

 

PS: I do not ask for a specific price at all - I am sorry for probably being too much direct - 

I was more thinking about a general limit about what would be a fair price to go for.

 

 

[Darold Petty]

Lars, I do not know this for certain, ..but I was told once that the government does not allow the casual sale of viable nuts and that these would never germinate. 

That is, only dead nuts are offered to the random, general sale.  (Can anyone else offer clarification? ) 

[PalmatierMeg]

20 minutes ago, Darold Petty said:

Lars, I do not know this for certain, ..but I was told once that the government does not allow the casual sale of viable nuts and that these would never germinate. 

That is, only dead nuts are offered to the random, general sale.  (Can anyone else offer clarification? ) 

According to RPS:

"Viable seeds have always been in short supply and are now nearly impossible to obtain because the endosperm (the "seed") of nuts originating in the Seychelles is listed on CITES and banned from international trade without proper permits. The Seychelles government is issuing these permits only for export of the endosperm, thinly sliced, to be used as an aphrodisiac, largely in Asia, where they are sold at astronomical prices."

I've read several sources that say the Seychelles has stopped all exportation of viable seeds of this palm. At one time RPS sold the outer shell of nonviable seeds for "decoration purposes only" and charged $275 for them. RPS hasn't done that for years. My concern is that what is offered is not as it seems, i.e., the seed is nothing but a nonviable shell or is a bit of sliced endosperm. Worse yet, the seed has been illegally taken from habitat and is being sold without proper CITES permits and paperwork. Does the seller claim he has the permits to legally have or sell a live seed? Someone needs to check him out. At best you may be out a lot of money if he doesn't. Or you may be subject to charges.

Lars, sorry to be a downer but I don't want to see you ripped off or in legal trouble.

 

[Darold Petty]

Thanks Meg !  

[palmfriend]

Meg, Darold,

 

Thank you very much for your replies! 

I checked the offer again and it says clearly that the seed is not viable - it was imported

years ago as a sample for decoration purposes... I didn't see it firsthand. 

(The seller seems to be a very reputable florist.)

So, I contacted the seller and asked her/him to cancel my bet if possible. 

I hope it will turn out well, if not, than I can say I learned it the hard way!

 

Thanks a lot again!

 

Lars

 

[palmfriend]

Alright,

I got off from the hook - case closed and

lesson learned!

Meg, Darol - thank you again very much for your comments that opened my eyes.

best regards -

Lars

 

[PalmatierMeg]

Glad you got out of it.