Scientific Name: Cocos nucifera
Common Name: Coconut
Fun Facts
- Tropical tree famous for its versatile uses and iconic presence in coastal landscapes.
- Lifespan: Can live up to 6080 years, with peak fruit-bearing around 1520 years.
- Cultural Importance: Revered in many tropical cultures for its economic and nutritional value.
- Unique Growth: Linked to beaches and tropical climates, capable of surviving high salinity.
- Trunk: Tall, slender, and slightly curved; ringed with leaf scars.
- Leaves: Long, pinnate fronds; bright green and arching.
- Fruit: Large, oval-shaped coconuts with a hard shell, fibrous husk, and nutritious meat and water.
- Flowers: Small, yellow, occur in large clusters on branched stalks.
Growth Conditions
- Soil: Well-draining sandy soil; tolerates salty and slightly alkaline conditions.
- Preferred Climate: Prefers consistently warm temperatures between 70-85°F (21-29°C).
- Light: Needs full sun to thrive.
- Watering: Regular watering, especially for young trees; prefers moist but not waterlogged soil.
- Propagation: Typically grown from seeds (coconuts).
Benefits and Uses
- Every part of the coconut, from water to husk, has a use – it's a true symbol of sustainability.
Culinary: Coconut water is a refreshing drink, coconut milk is essential in various cuisines, and the flesh is used in many dishes and snacks. - Medicinal: Used in traditional and modern medicine for its purported antibacterial, antiviral, and calming properties.
- Industrial: Fibers from husks used for ropes and mats; palm leaves for thatching and weaving; trunks for timber.
- Ornamental: Cultivated for its aesthetic value