Coconut Palm, Coconut

Cocos nucifera

Physical Characteristics

Cocos nucifera is an evergreen Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 7 m (23ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Wind. The plant is self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid, very alkaline and saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

Pantropical.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit Oil Root Sap Seed Stem Edible Uses: Coffee Condiment Drink Milk Oil Sweetener Edible portion: Nut (Seed), Sap, Cabbage, Nut milk, Apple, Palm heart. Seed - raw or cooked[ 297 ] A very versatile food, being eaten raw and used in a wide range of cooked dishes. The seed is often dried then shredded to be used as a flavouring in cakes, curries etc[ 297 ]. Coconut milk or cream, which is pressed from the mix of freshly grated seed with water, has been a traditional ingredient in many African and especially Asian food and bakery products, and is becoming more widely known[ 299 ] The flesh inside a half-ripe seed is gelatinous and clear in colour, it is eaten as a delicacy either raw or cooked[ 63 ]. An edible oil can be extracted from the seed. It is widely used in cooking, making margarines, shortening, filled milk, ice cream, confectioneries etc[ 297 , 299 ]. The oil is traditionally extracted by grating the kernel, macerating with water and boiling it - the oil floats to the surface and is skimmed off[ 63 ]. Most oil, however, is obtained by pressing the kernel[ 63 ]. The liquid inside unripe fruits is a delicious refreshing drink[ 297 ]. It is cool even on a hot tropical day[ 61 , 297 ]. Inflorescence - cooked and used as a vegetable[ 301 ]. A sugary sap can be obtained from the stalk of the inflorescence[ 297 ]. It is obtained by tapping or cutting the stalks of young flower bunches[ 63 ]. This sap can be fermented into an alcoholic beverage[ 300 ]. Apical bud - raw[ 301 ]. Eating this bud effectively kills the trunk since it is unable to produce side branches[ 301 ]. The roots are roasted and used as a coffee substitute[ 301 ]. The pith of the stem is made into a bread, added to soups or pickled[ 301 ].

Medicinal Uses

Antidiarrhoeal Antirheumatic Aphrodisiac Cytotoxic Diuretic Dysentery Emetic Emollient Hypotensive Kidney Poultice Purgative Skin Vermifuge The coconut is widely used in traditional medicine, where it is ascribed a very wide range of applications[ 311 ]. The seed oil is cytotoxic, emetic, emollient, hypotensive and purgative[ 311 ]. The oil is rubbed onto stiff joints[ 311 ]. It is also used to treat rheumatism and back pains or as an ointment to maintain smooth, soft skin[ 311 ]. Mixed with turmeric, it is used to treat sick new born infants and women who have just given birth[ 311 ]. To place a baby from a breech to a normal position in the mother?s womb, the abdomen is massaged with coconut oil[ 311 ]. Coconut milk is diuretic[ 311 ]. It is used to treat fish poisoning[ 311 ]. The juice from a green coconut is given to women who have difficult pregnancies[ 311 ]. Juice from the fruit is taken to treat kidney problems[ 311 ]. The root is employed in treating stomach-ache and blood in the urine[ 311 ]. It is boiled in combination with Ruellia tuberosa root and used as a treatment for bladder ailments and as an aphrodisiac[ 348 ]. In Fiji, weakness after childbirth is treated with liquid extracted from the stem[ 311 ]. Juice from the midrib at the lower base of the leaf is used in treating maternal postpartum illness[ 311 ]. In New Guinea, sores and scabies are treated with parts of the plant[ 311 ]. A poultice made from the apical bud is used externally to treat ulcers[ 348 ]. The coconut is said to have vermicide properties[ 311 ]. Haemorrhaging is stopped with the use of the dry, spongy kernel[ 311 ]. In the Solomon Islands, diarrhoea and dysentery are treated with parts of this plant[ 311 ].

Known Hazards

None known