What is a coconut?
A: The term "coconut" can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the
fruit, which botanically is a drupe, not a nut.
Where did the name come from?
A: The old Portuguese word coco, meaning "head" or "skull", after the three
indentations on the coconut shell that resemble facial features.
Where are they ubiquitous?
A: In coastal tropical regions and are a cultural icon of the tropics.
What does the coconut tree provide?
A: Food, fuel, cosmetics, folk medicine and building materials, among many
other uses.
The inner flesh of the mature seed, as well as the
coconut milk extracted from it, form a regular part of what?
A: The diets of many people in the tropics and subtropics.
Why are coconuts distinct from other fruits?
A: Because their endosperm contains a large quantity of clear liquid, called
coconut water or coconut juice.
Mature, ripe coconuts can be used as what?
A: Edible seeds or processed for oil and plant milk from the flesh, charcoal
from the hard shell, and coir from the fibrous husk.
What is dried coconut flesh called?
A: Copra.
The oil and milk derived from it are commonly used in what?
A: Cooking – frying in particular – as well as in
soaps and cosmetics.
Sweet coconut sap can be made into what?
A: Drinks or fermented into palm
wine or coconut vinegar.
The hard shells, fibrous husks and long pinnate leaves can be used as material to make a variety of products for furnishing and decoration.
The coconut has also acquired religious significance in
South Asian cultures, where it is used in what?
A: Hindu rituals.
It also plays a central role in the Coconut
Religion of
what?
A: Vietnam.
The falling of their mature fruit has led to
preoccupation with what?
A: Death by coconut.
Coconuts were first domesticated by whom?
A: The Austronesian peoples in Island Southeast Asia.
They played a critical role in the long sea voyages of
Austronesians by providing what?
A: A portable source of food and water, as well as providing building
materials for Austronesian outrigger boats.
Coconuts were also later spread in historic times along
the coasts of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans by whom?
A: South Asian, Arab, and European sailors.
Based on these separate introductions, coconut
populations can still be divided into what?
A: Pacific coconuts and Indo-Atlantic coconuts, respectively.
Trees grow up to how tall?
A: 30 meters (100 feet).
They can yield up to fruits per year?
A: 75 though fewer than 30 is more typical.
Plants are intolerant of what?
A: Cold weather.
They prefer copious precipitation, as well as what?
A: Full sunlight.
Many insect pests and diseases affect the species and
are a nuisance for what?
A: Commercial production.
About 75% of the world's supply of coconuts is produced
by whom?
A: Indonesia, Philippines, and India.
The coconut tree is the official state tree of what?
A: Kerala, India.
Coconut palms produce their first fruit in how long?
A: Six to ten years, taking 15 to 20 years to reach peak production.
