Coconut Palm Trees
Coconut Palms (Cocos nucifera)
Conservation status
Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Arecales Family: Arecaceae Subfamily: Arecoideae Tribe: Cocoeae Genus: Cocos Species: C. The conservation status of a Species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Liliopsida is a Botanical name for the class containing the family Liliaceae (or Lily Family Arecales is an order of Flowering plants The order has been widely recognised only for the past few decades until then the accepted name for the order including Arecaceae or Palmae (also known by the name Palmaceae, which is taxonomically invalid or commonly palm tree) the palm family is a family of Flowering nucifera
Binomial name
Cocos nucifera L.

Coconut germinating on Black Sand Beach, Island of Hawaii

The Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family). Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for Punaluu Beach (also called Black Sand Beach is a beach between Pāhala and Nā{{okina}}ālehu on the Big Island of the U The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island, is a volcanic Island in the U Arecaceae or Palmae (also known by the name Palmaceae, which is taxonomically invalid or commonly palm tree) the palm family is a family of Flowering It is the only species in the genus Cocos, and is a large palm, growing to 30 m tall, with pinnate leaves 4-6 m long, pinnae 60-90 cm long; old leaves break away cleanly leaving the trunk smooth. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Pinnate is a term used to describe Feather -like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis in Plant or Animal structures and comes In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. In Botany, trunk (or bole) refers to the main structural member of a Tree that supports the Branches and is supported by and directly attached The term coconut refers to the fruit of the coconut palm. An alternate spelling is cocoanut.

The coconut palm is grown throughout the tropical world, for decoration as well as for its many culinary and non-culinary uses; virtually every part of the coconut palm has some human uses. The Tropics are centered on the Equator and limited in Latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately 23°26' (23

Origins and cultivation

The coconut tree.

The origins of this plant are the subject of controversy, with most authorities claiming it is native to South Asia (particularly the Ganges Delta), while others claim its origin is in northwestern South America. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Fossil records from New Zealand indicate that small, coconut-like plants grew there as long as 15 million years ago. FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Even older fossils have been uncovered in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, (India) and the oldest known so far in Khulna, Bangladesh. Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Khulna is the third largest city in Bangladesh. It is located on the banks of the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers in Khulna District. ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially Regardless of its origin, the coconut has spread across much of the tropics, probably aided in many cases by sea-faring peoples. The fruit is light and buoyant and presumably spread significant distances by marine currents. Fruits collected from the sea as far north as Norway have been found to be viable (and subsequently germinated under the right conditions). Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional In the Hawaiian Islands, the coconut is regarded as a Polynesian introduction, first brought to the islands by early Polynesian voyagers from their homelands in the South Pacific. The Hawaiian Islands, once known as the Sandwich Islands, form an Archipelago of 19 Islands and Atolls numerous smaller Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a Subregion of Oceania, comprising a large grouping of over They are now ubiquitous to most of the planet between 26ºN and 26ºS. The coconut palm thrives on sandy soils and is highly tolerant of salinity. Salinity is the Saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of Water. It prefers areas with abundant sunlight and regular rainfall (1,500 to 2,500 mm annually), which makes colonizing shorelines of the tropics relatively straightforward. ^[1] Coconuts also need high humidity (70–80%+) for optimum growth, which is why they are rarely seen in areas with low humidity, like the Mediterranean, even where temperatures are high enough (regularly above 24°C). Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air In daily language the term "humidity" is normally taken to mean Relative humidity. They are very hard to establish in dry climates and cannot grow there without frequent irrigation; in drought conditions, the new leaves do not open well, and older leaves may become desiccated; fruit also tends to be shed. ^[1] They may grow but not fruit properly in areas where there is not sufficient warmth, like Bermuda. Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Coconut and copra output in 2005

A man climbing a palm to harvest coconuts. Behind the palm a young plant is visible.

Coconut palms require warm conditions for successful growth, and are intolerant of cold weather. Optimum growth is with a mean annual temperature of 27°C(80. 6°F), and growth is reduced below 21°C(69. 8°F). Some seasonal variation is tolerated, with good growth where mean summer temperatures are between 28–37 °C(82. 4-98. 6 °F), and survival as long as winter temperatures are above 4–12 °C(39. 2-53. 6 °F); they will survive brief drops to 0 °C(32°F). Severe frost is usually fatal, although they have been known to recover from temperatures of -4 °C(24. 8°F). ^[1]

The flowers of the coconut palm are polygamomonoecious, with both male and female flowers in the same inflorescence. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also The term polygamomonoecious is used to describe a Species population containing Plants that are Polygamous and plants that are Monoecious. Flowering occurs continuously, with female flowers producing seeds. Coconut palms are believed to be largely cross-pollinated, although some dwarf varieties are self-pollinating. Pollination in angiosperms and Gymnosperms is the process that transfers pollen grains, which contain the male Gametes (sperm to where the female

Pests and diseases

Main article: List of coconut palm diseases

Coconuts affected by eriophyid mites, at Taliparamba, Kannur, Kerala, India. This article is a list of diseases of Coconut palms ( Cocos nucifera) WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Taliparamba ( Perimchellur) is a city and a Municipality in Kannur district For the district with the name Kannur see Kannur District. For town with same name in Karnataka, see Kannur Dakshina Kannada Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

Coconuts are susceptible to the phytoplasma disease lethal yellowing. Phytoplasma, formerly known as 'Mycoplasma-like organisms' or MLOs are specialised bacteria that are obligate Parasites of plant Phloem tissue and of some Lethal Yellowing is a Phytoplasma disease that attacks many species of palms, including some commercially important species such as the Coconut and One recently selected cultivar, 'Maypan', has been bred for resistance to this disease. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar Maypan is an F1 hybrid Coconut that was developed by the Research Department of the Coconut Industry Board of Jamaica to be resistant to Lethal Yellowing The fruit may also be damaged by eriophyid mites. Eriophyidae is a family of more than 200 genera of Mites which live as Plant Parasites commonly causing Galls or other damage to the plant The coconut is also used as a food plant by the larvae of many Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species, including the following Batrachedra spp: B. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. A butterfly is an Insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a A moth is an Insect closely related to the Butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Batrachedridae is a small family of Moths These are small slender moths which rest with the wings wrapped tightly around the body arenosella, B. atriloqua (feeds exclusively on Cocos nucifera), B. mathesoni (feeds exclusively on Cocos nucifera), and B. nuciferae.

Brontispa longissima (the "Coconut leaf beetle") feeds on young leaves and damages seedlings and mature coconut palms. Brontispa longissima (known as the Coconut leaf beetle, the Two-coloured coconut leaf beetle, or the Coconut hispine beetle) is a Leaf beetle In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. A seedling is a young plant Sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a Seed. Arecaceae or Palmae (also known by the name Palmaceae, which is taxonomically invalid or commonly palm tree) the palm family is a family of Flowering On September 27, 2007, Philippines' Metro Manila and 26 provinces were quarantined due to having been infested with this pest (to save the $800-million Philippine coconut industry). Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Metropolitan Manila ( Filipino: Kalakhang Maynila, Kamaynilaan) or the National Capital Region (NCR ( Filipino: Pambansang A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. For other uses see Quarantine (disambiguation Quarantine is voluntary or compulsory isolation typically to contain the spread of something For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" ^[2]

Growing in the United States

The only two states in the U. S. where coconut palms can be grown and reproduced outdoors without irrigation are Hawaii and Florida. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Coconut palms will grow from Bradenton southwards on Florida's west coast and Melbourne southwards on Florida's east coast. The occasional coconut palm is seen north of these areas in favoured microclimates in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area and around Cape Canaveral. They may likewise be grown in favoured microclimates in the Rio Grande Valley area of Deep South Texas near Brownsville and on Galveston Island. The Rio Grande Valley is an area located in the southernmost tip of Texas. Galveston Island is a Barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast in the United States about 50 miles (80 kilometers southeast of Houston. They may reach fruiting maturity, but are damaged or killed by the occasional winter freezes in these areas. While coconut palms flourish in south Florida, unusually bitter cold snaps can kill or injure coconut palms there as well. Only the Florida Keys and the coastlines provide safe havens from the cold as far as growing coconut palms on the U. The Florida Keys are an Archipelago of about 1700 islands in the southeast United States. S. mainland.

The farthest north in the United States a coconut palm has been known to grow outdoors is in Newport Beach, California along the Pacific Coast Highway. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. State Route 1, often called Highway 1, is a State highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U In order for coconut palms to survive in Southern California they need sandy soil and minimal water in the winter to prevent root rot, and would benefit from root heating coils. Southern California, or So Cal, is defined as the southern portion of the U

Production

Indonesia is the world leader in coconut production followed closely by the exponentially increasing product of the Philippines. The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Then, in a distant third India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

Top Ten Coconut Producers — 2005
Country	Production (Int $1000)	Footnote	Production (MT)	Footnote
Indonesia	1,474,172	C	16,300,000	F
Philippines	1,311,380	C	14,500,000	F
India	859,180	C	9,500,000	F
Brazil	274,380	C	3,033,830
Sri Lanka	176,358	C	1,950,000	F
Thailand	135,660	C	1,500,000	F
Mexico	86,732	C	959,000	F
Vietnam	85,014	C	940,000	F
Malaysia	64,212	C	710,000	F
Papua New Guinea	58,786	C	650,000	F
No symbol = official figure,F = FAO estimate, * = Unofficial figure, C = Calculated figure; Production in Int $1000 have been calculated based on 1999-2001 international prices Source: Food And Agricultural Organization of United Nations: Economic And Social Department: The Statistical Devision

The fruit

Illustration of a coconut tree

Botanically, a coconut is a simple dry nut known as a fibrous drupe. Botany, plant science(s, phytology, or plant biology is a branch of Biology and is the scientific study of plant Life In Botany, a drupe is a Fruit in which an outer fleshy part ( Exocarp, or skin and Mesocarp, or flesh surrounds a shell (the pit The husk, or mesocarp, is composed of fibres called coir and there is an inner stone, or endocarp. A Fruit in Botany refers to a mature ovary. In fleshy fruits the outer often edible layer is the pericarp, which is the tissue that develops Fiber or fibre is a class of Materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces similar to lengths of thread. Coir (from Malayalam kayar, cord is a coarse fibre extracted from the fibrous outer shell of a Coconut. A Fruit in Botany refers to a mature ovary. In fleshy fruits the outer often edible layer is the pericarp, which is the tissue that develops The endocarp is the hardest part. This hard endocarp, the outside of the coconut as sold in the shops of non-tropical countries, has three germination pores that are clearly visible on the outside surface once the husk is removed. Germination is the process whereby growth emerges from a period of dormancy In Botany, a stoma (also stomate; plural stomata) is a tiny opening or pore found mostly on the underside of a Plant Leaf It is through one of these that the radicle emerges when the embryo germinates. In Botany, the radicle is the first part of a Seedling (a growing plant Embryo) to emerge from the Seed during the process of An embryo (from Greek:, plural, lit "that which grows" from en- "in" + bryein "to swell be full" is a multicellular Adhering to the inside wall of the endocarp is the testa, with a thick albuminous endosperm (the coconut "meat"), the white and fleshy edible part of the seed. Endosperm is the tissue produced in the Seeds of most Flowering plants around the time of fertilization

Although coconut meat contains less fat than other dry nuts such as peanuts and almonds, it is noted for its high amount of saturated fat^[3]. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water The peanut, or Groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea) is a species in the Legume family Fabaceae native to South America, Mexico The Almond ( Prunus dulcis, syn Prunus amygdalus Batsch Amygdalus communis L Saturated fat is Fat that consists of Triglycerides containing only saturated Fatty acids Explanation Fat that occurs Approximately 90% of the fat found in coconut meat is saturated, a proportion exceeding that of foods such as lard, butter, and tallow. Lard is pig Fat in both its rendered and unrendered forms Lard was commonly used in many cuisines as a Cooking fat or Shortening Butter is a Dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented Cream or Milk. Tallow is a rendered form of Beef or Mutton Fat, processed from Suet. However, there has been some debate as to whether or not the saturated fat in coconuts is healthier than the saturated fat found in other foods (see coconut oil for more information). Coconut oil, also known as coconut butter, is a tropical oil with many applications Coconut meat also contains less sugar and more protein than popular fruits such as bananas, apples and oranges, and it is relatively high in minerals such as iron, phosphorus and zinc. Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. The apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. An orange —specifically the sweet orange —is the Citrus fruit Citrus sinensis ( syn Dietary minerals are the Chemical elements required by living Organisms other than the four elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15 Zinc (ˈzɪŋk from Zink is a Metallic Chemical element with the symbol Zn and Atomic number 30

The endosperm surrounds a hollow interior space, filled with air and often a liquid referred to as coconut water, not to be confused with coconut milk. Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young coconuts (fruits of the coconut palm) not to be confused with Coconut milk. Coconut milk is a sweet milky white cooking base derived from the meat of a mature Coconut. Coconut milk, called "santan" in Malay, is made by grating the endosperm and mixing it with (warm) water. The Malay language ( ISO 639-1 code MS is an Austronesian language spoken by the Malay people and people of other ethnic groups who reside in the Endosperm is the tissue produced in the Seeds of most Flowering plants around the time of fertilization The resulting thick, white liquid is used in much Asian cooking, for example, in curries. Curry is the English description of any of a general variety of spicy dishes best known in Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan Coconut water from the unripe coconut, however, can be drunk fresh. Young coconuts used for coconut water are called tender coconuts. The water of a tender coconut is liquid endosperm. It is sweet (mild) with aerated feel when cut fresh. Depending on the size a tender coconut could contain the liquid in the range of 300 to 1,000 ml. It is known in Tamil/Malayalam/Kannada as "elaneer".

When viewed on end, the endocarp and germination pores give the fruit the appearance of a coco (also Côca), a Portuguese word for a scary witch from Portuguese folklore, that used to be represented as a carved vegetable lantern, hence the name of the fruit. Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. ^[4] The specific name nucifera is Latin for nut-bearing.

When the coconut is still green, the endosperm inside is thin and tender, often eaten as a snack. But the main reason to pick the nut at this stage is to drink its water; a big nut contains up to one liter.

A mature coconut's interior

The meat in a young coconut is softer and more like gelatin than a mature coconut, so much so, that it is sometimes known as coconut jelly. Gelatin (also gelatine, from French gélatine) is a translucent colourless brittle nearly tasteless solid substance, extracted from the When the nut has ripened and the outer husk has turned brown, a few months later, it will fall from the palm of its own accord. At that time the endosperm has thickened and hardened, while the coconut water has become somewhat bitter.

Coconuts sundried in Kozhikode, Kerala for making copra, which is used for making coconut oil

When the nut is still green the husk is very hard, but green nuts only fall if they have been attacked by moulds, etc. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> For the district with the same name see Kozhikode District. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Copra is the dried meat or kernel of the Coconut. The name copra is derived from the Malayalam word kopra for dried coconut Coconut oil, also known as coconut butter, is a tropical oil with many applications By the time the nut naturally falls, the husk has become brown, the coir has become drier and softer, and the nut is less likely to cause damage when it drops. Still, there have been instances of coconuts falling from palms and injuring people, and claims of some fatalities. This was the subject of a paper published in 1984 that won the Ig Nobel Prize in 2001. The Ig Nobel Prizes are a Parody of the Nobel Prizes and are given each year in early October — around the time the recipients of the genuine Nobel Prizes are Falling coconut deaths are often used as a comparison to shark attacks; the claim is often made that a person is more likely to be killed by a falling coconut than by a shark. Sharks ( Superorder Selachimorpha) are a type of Fish with a full cartilaginous Skeleton and a highly streamlined body However, there is no evidence of people being killed in this manner. ^[5] However William Wyatt Gill, an early LMS missionary on Mangaia recorded a story in which Kaiara, the concubine of King Tetui, was killed by a falling green nut. The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational Missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Mangaia (traditionally known as Auau Enua which means terraced) is the most southerly of the Cook Islands and the second largest after Rarotonga. The offending palm was immediately cut down. This was around 1777, the time of Captain Cook's visit. Captain James Cook FRS RN ( – 14 February 1779) was an English Explorer, Navigator and

In some parts of the world, trained pig-tailed macaques are used to harvest coconuts. The macaques (məˈkæk constitute a genus ( Macaca, /məˈkækə/ of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. Training schools for pig-tailed macaques still exist both in southern Thailand and in the Malaysian state of Kelantan^[6]. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. Competitions are held each year to find the fastest harvester.

Uses

Nearly all parts of the coconut palm are useful, and the palms have a comparatively high yield, up to 75 fruits per year; it therefore has significant economic value. An economy is the realized social system of production exchange distribution and consumption of goods and services of a country or other area The name for the coconut palm in Sanskrit is kalpa vriksha, which translates as "the tree which provides all the necessities of life". Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical In Malay, the coconut is known as pokok seribu guna, "the tree of a thousand uses". The Malay language ( ISO 639-1 code MS is an Austronesian language spoken by the Malay people and people of other ethnic groups who reside in the In the Philippines, the coconut is commonly given the title "Tree of Life". The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP A tree of life is a mystical concept a Metaphor for common descent or a Motif in various world theologies and philosophies. ^[7] It its theorised that if you were to become stranded on a desert island populated by palm trees, you could survive purely on the tree and coconut alone, as the coconut provides all of the required natural properties for survival.

Coconut in market

Sold on a street at Guntur, India

Green Coconut Vendor in Delhi, India in Summer

A relatively young coconut which has been served in a hawker centre in Singapore with a straw with which to drink its coconut water. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Guntur ( Telugu: గుంటూరు Urdu: گنٹور, Hindi: गुंटूर India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Summer is one of the four Temperate Seasons Summer marks the warmest time of year with the longest days Singapore Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young coconuts (fruits of the coconut palm) not to be confused with Coconut milk.

Uses of the various parts of the palm include:

Culinary

• The white, fleshy part of the seed is edible and used fresh or dried in cooking. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored
• Sport fruits are also harvested, primarily in the Philippines, where they are known as macapuno. A bud sport is a part of a Plant or Tree, for example a Leaf, shoot or Flower, which due to a Genetic mutation clearly differs from They are sold in jars as "gelatinous mutant coconut" cut into balls or strands.
• The cavity is filled with coconut water which contains sugar, fibre, proteins, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young coconuts (fruits of the coconut palm) not to be confused with Coconut milk. Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl An antioxidant is a Molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules A vitamin is an Organic compound required as a Nutrient in tiny amounts by an Organism. A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition a highly ordered atomic structure and specific Coconut water provides an isotonic electrolyte balance, and is a highly nutritious food source. An electrolyte is any substance containing free Ions that behaves as an electrically conductive medium It is used as a refreshing drink throughout the humid tropics and is also used in isotonic sports drinks. It can also be used to make the gelatinous dessert nata de coco. Nata de coco is a chewy translucent jelly-like Food product produced by the bacterial fermentation of Coconut water Mature fruits have significantly less liquid than young immature coconuts; barring spoilage, coconut water is sterile until opened.
• Coconut milk is made by processing grated coconut with hot water or milk, which extracts the oil and aromatic compounds. Coconut milk is a sweet milky white cooking base derived from the meat of a mature Coconut. It should not be confused with the coconut water discussed above, and has a fat content of approximately 17%. When refrigerated and left to set, coconut cream will rise to the top and separate out the milk. Coconut cream is an Infusion of shredded Coconut and water Coconut cream may also be made with Milk instead of water to obtain a richer product The milk is used to produce virgin coconut oil by controlled heating and removing the oil fraction. Virgin coconut oil is found superior to the oil extracted from copra for cosmetic purposes.
• The leftover fibre from coconut milk production is used as livestock feed.
• The smell of coconuts comes from the 6-pentyloxan-2-one molecule, known as delta-decalactone in the food and fragrance industry. ^[8]
• The sap derived from incising the flower clusters of the coconut is fermented to produce palm wine, also known as "toddy" or, in the Philippines, tuba. Palm Wine also called Palm Toddy or simply Toddy is an Alcoholic beverage created from the Sap of various species of Palm tree such The sap can also be reduced by boiling to create a sweet syrup or candy.
• Apical buds of adult plants are edible and are known as "palm-cabbage" or heart-of-palm. A meristem is a tissue in all Plants consisting of undifferentiated cells ( meristematic cells) and found in zones of the plant where growth can take place Heart of palm, also called palm heart, palmito, chonta or swamp cabbage, is a Vegetable harvested from the inner core and growing It is considered a rare delicacy, as the act of harvesting the bud kills the palm. Hearts of palm are eaten in salads, sometimes called "millionaire's salad".
• Ruku Raa is an extract from the young bud, a very rare type of nectar collected and used as morning break drink in the islands of Maldives reputed for its energetic power keeping the "raamen" (nectar collector) healthy and fit even over 80 and 90 years old. The Maldives ( or, or Maldive Islands) officially the Republic of Maldives, is an Island nation consisting of a group of atolls stretching And by-products are sweet honey-like syrup and creamy sugar for desserts.
• Newly germinated coconuts contain an edible fluff of marshmallow-like consistency called coconut sprout, produced as the endosperm nourishes the developing embryo. The Marshmallow is a Confection that in its modern form typically consists of Sugar or Corn syrup, water Gelatin that has been pre-softened
• In the Philippines, rice is wrapped in coco leaves for cooking and subsequent storage - these packets are called puso.

Non-culinary

Extracting the fibre from the husk (Sri Lanka).

The coconut trunk pillars for roping the boat in Mỹ Tho, Vietnam. Mỹ Tho is the capital city and municipality of the Tiền Giang Province in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam. Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially

• Coconut water can be used as an intravenous fluid. ^[9]
• Coir (the fibre from the husk of the coconut) is used in ropes, mats, brushes, caulking boats and as stuffing fibre; it is also used extensively in horticulture for making potting compost. Coir (from Malayalam kayar, cord is a coarse fibre extracted from the fibrous outer shell of a Coconut. Horticulture is the art and science of plant cultivation Horticulturists (or horticuluralists) work and conduct research in the fields of Plant propagation
• Coconut oil can be rapidly processed and extracted as a fully organic product from fresh coconut flesh^[10], and used in many ways including as a medicine and in cosmetics, or as a direct replacement for diesel fuel. Coconut oil, also known as coconut butter, is a tropical oil with many applications Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the Diesel or Diesel fuel (ˈdiːzəl in general is any Fuel used in Diesel engines The most common is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum
• Copra is the dried meat of the seed and, after further processing, is a source of low grade coconut oil. Copra is the dried meat or kernel of the Coconut. The name copra is derived from the Malayalam word kopra for dried coconut Coconut oil, also known as coconut butter, is a tropical oil with many applications
• The leaves provide materials for baskets and roofing thatch.
• Palmwood comes from the trunk and is increasingly being used as an ecologically-sound substitute for endangered hardwoods. Palmwood is a Hardwood Timber from palm trees most commonly associated with the Coconut Palm but also including the Date Palm. It has several applications, particularly in furniture and specialized construction (notably in Manila's Coconut Palace). Furniture is the Mass noun for the movable objects which may support the human body (seating furniture and beds, provide storage or hold objects on horizontal The City of Manila The Coconut Palace is a Palace in Manila, Philippines, commissioned by former First Lady Imelda Marcos for Pope John Paul II
• Hawaiians hollowed the trunk to form drums, containers, or even small canoes.
• The husk and shells can be used for fuel and are a good source of charcoal. Charcoal' is the blackish residue consisting of impure Carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from Animal and Vegetation
• Dried half coconut shells with husks are used to buff floors. In the Philippines, it is known as "bunot".
• In the Philippines, dried half shells are used as a music instrument in a folk dance called maglalatik, a traditional dance about the conflicts for coconut meat within the Spanish era
• Shirt buttons can be carved out of dried coconut shell. Coconut buttons are often used for Hawaiian Aloha shirts. The Aloha shirt is a style of dress shirt originating in Hawaii.
• The stiff leaflet midribs can be used to make cooking skewers, kindling arrows, or are bound into bundles, brooms and brushes.
• The roots are used as a dye, a mouthwash, and a medicine for dysentery. ROOT is an object-oriented program and library developed by CERN. A dye can generally be described as a Colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied Dysentery (formerly known as flux or the bloody flux) is an infection of the digestive system that results in severe Diarrhea containing mucus and blood A frayed-out piece of root can also be used as a toothbrush. The toothbrush is an instrument consisting of a small Brush on a handle used to clean Teeth through Tooth brushing.
• Half coconut shells are used in theatre, banged together to create the sound effect of a horse's hoofbeats. Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. They were used in this way in the Monty Python film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Monty Python (sometimes known as The Pythons) is the collective name of the six creators of Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British Television Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1975 film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python ( Graham Chapman, John Cleese

Making a rug from coconut fibre.

• The leaves can be woven to create effective roofing materials, or reed mats.
• Half coconut shells may be deployed as an improvised bra, especially for comedic effect or theatrical purposes. They were used in this way in the 1970s UK sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum for example. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It Ain't Half Hot Mum was a British sitcom about the adventures of a Royal Artillery Concert Party, broadcast between 1974 and 1981 and written
• Drained coconuts can be filled with gun powder and used as Improvised explosive devices. Gunpowder is a an explosive mixture of Sulfur, Charcoal and Potassium nitrate (also known as saltpetre/saltpeter that burns rapidly producing volumes An improvised explosive device ( IED) is a Bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional Military action
• In fairgrounds, a "coconut shy" is a popular target practice game, and coconuts are commonly given as prizes. A coconut shy (or coconut shie) is a traditional game frequently found as a sidestall at Funfairs and Fêtes The game consists of throwing wooden balls
• A coconut can be hollowed out and used as a home for a rodent or small bird. Halved, drained coconuts can also be hung up as bird feeders, and after the flesh has gone, can be filled with fat in winter to attract tits. The tits, chickadees, and titmice comprise Paridae, a large family of small Passerine Birds which occur in the Northern hemisphere
• Fresh inner coconut husk can be rubbed on the lens of snorkelling goggles to prevent fogging during use.
• Dried coconut leaves can be burned to ash, which can be harvested for lime. Lime is a general term for various naturally occurring Minerals and materials derived from them in which Carbonates Oxides and Hydroxides of
• Coconuts can be used as ammunition for homemade catapults. A catapult is any one of a number of non-handheld mechanical devices used to throw a Projectile a great distance without the aid of an explosive substance—particularly various
• Dried half coconut shells are used as the bodies of musical instruments, including the Chinese yehu and banhu, and the Vietnamese đàn gáo. The Sogdian-Turkish title of Yabgu is transliterated into literary Chinese as Yehu (Sogdian title in various Chinese historical works. The banhu ( 板胡, Pinyin: bǎnhú is a Chinese traditional bowed String instrument in the Huqin family of instruments The đàn gáo is a Vietnamese bowed String instrument with two strings

A wall made from coconut husks.

• Coconut is also commonly used as a herbal remedy in Pakistan to treat bites from rats. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and
• The "branches" (leaf petioles) are strong and flexible enough to make a switch. A switch is a flexible rod typically used for corporal punishment of the Birching type called switching after it especially when The use of coconut branches in corporal punishment was revived in the Gilbertese community on Choiseul in the Solomon Islands in 2005. The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands ^[11]
• In World War II, coastwatcher scout Biuki Gasa was the first of two from the Solomon Islands to reach the shipwrecked, wounded, and exhausted crew of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 commanded by future U. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Coastwatchers, also known as the Coast Watch Organisation, Combined Field Intelligence Service or Section "C" Allied Intelligence Bureau Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana were Solomon Islands natives of Melanesian descent who discovered John F The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands Specifications PT-109 belonged to the PT 103 class hundreds of which were completed between 1942 and 1945 by Elco. S. president John F. Kennedy. John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of Gasa suggested, for lack of paper, delivering by dugout canoe a message inscribed on a husked coconut shell. This coconut was later kept on the president's desk, and is now in the John F. Kennedy Library. The John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is the Presidential library and Museum of the 35th President of the United States, John F
• Coconut trunks are used for building small bridges, preferred for their straightness, strength and salt resistance

See also

Gelugu (coconut wood) in Klaten, Java

• Coconut charcoal
• Coconut cream
• Coconut milk
• Coconut oil
• Coconut water
• Maypan coconut palm
• Coconut candy

References

External links

• Coconut Varieties Endemic to Sri Lanka
• Coconut Research Center
• Coconut Time Line
• Plant Cultures: botany, history and uses of the coconut
• Purdue University crop pages: Cocos nucifera
• Coconut
• P. Batugal, V. R. Rao and J. Oliver (2005). Coconut Genetic Resources. COGENT (International Coconut Genetic Resources Network) - IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute).  
• Descriptors for Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.)
• Nutritional values for Coconut products