Synonyms

Calappa nucifera (L.) Kuntze

Cocos indica Royle

Systematic Position

Kingdom:  Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Order: Arecales

Family: Arecaceae

Native: Southeast Asia

Common Names

English – Coconut Tree

Malayalam – തെങ്ങ്

Description:
Coconut palm is a tree with a slim and smooth trunk, a crown of leaves, and rounded, green or yellow fruit. The flowers are developed in clusters at the leaf axis. Inflorescence spadix with a hard spathe. The female flowers are larger than the male flowers and are seen at the base of inflorescence branches. Both male and female flowers are found on the same inflorescence

Habitat:  Common in tropical areas throughout the world.

Distribution: Cultivated throughout the tropics.

Uses: Cocos nucifera, the coconut palm, has diverse uses: its fruit provides food, water, and oil; its husks are used in industry and fuel; its timber and leaves are employed in construction; and it holds medicinal and ornamental value. Toddy, a local beverage is extracted from unopened inflorescence by skilful workers. The endosperm of coconut seeds contains 7% dietary fiber, which helps promote healthy digestion, and 5% proteins, which are essential for tissue repair and maintenance. The harvested coconut also yields copra, the dried extracted kernel, or meat, from which coconut oil, a major vegetable oil, is produced. The meat may also be grated and usually mixed with water to make coconut milk, used in cooking and as a substitute for cow’s milk.