An exhibition by the Ministry of Environment (MoE), which among several other things exhibits a double coconut palm seed weighing an enormous 30 kilogram has become the centre of attraction at the Kumbh Mela 2019, the largest religious gathering in the world.
According to a Botanical Survey of India (BSI) researcher, the seed is the largest in the entire world.
Dr Shiv Kumar of the Botanical Survey of India during an interaction with PTI told that the seed belonged to a tree that was planted at the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden near Kolkata in the late 1894. Kumar said the tree had flowered after a long 112 years.
The tree that is now raised only in two African islands is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's global Red Data list for the species under risk.
The double coconut palm tree has a natural life of 1000 years and it takes 10 years to blossom.
An orchid seed, which measures 799 microns, has also been displayed at the exhibition in the Ministry of Environment pandal at Kumbh mela. The seed is so small that a person cannot see it without a microscope.
On the other hand, the image of a giant banyan tree advertized as the world's largest, is also drawing the attention of visitors as well as devotees at the Prayagraj.
Dr Kumar said the tree does not have the main stem ever since 1925. The exhibition by ministry of environment aims at creating awareness regarding the forest resources in India.
The Kumbh Mela 2019 started on 15th January on Makar Sankranti and will end on Mahashivratri i.e. 4th March. A huge number of people took holy dip at the Sangam on the occasion of Basant Panchami yesterday (10th February).
