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Dyed Tagua Seed Necklace

Tagua seeds are also known as vegetable ivory as the seeds are very similar in structure to elephant ivory and can also be carved into jewelry, chess sets and scrimshaws. The South American ivory nut palm (Phytelphas aequatorialis) translates as elephant plant, although the natives refer to it as the Tagua Tree. The spiny female palm seed pod weighs up to 80 lbs., and may have upwards of 40 to 80 of these encased beautiful nuts or seeds that when polished and cleaned make a wonderful worry stone or paper weight. This is a natural rain forest product that can generate five times the artisan income than banana plantations or cattle ranches – therefore the purchase of Tagua Seeds is an ecological incentive for preserving the rain forests.