About coconut tree in English | Nariyal | uses of coconut tree

About coconut tree in English

Here you will gate coconut tree information or you will know about the coconut tree in English. Coconut is called as Narial in Hindi. The scientific name of coconut is Cocos nucifera L. As well as you will know about coconut leaves, coconut flowers, the fruit of the coconut, coconut plant, coconut tree uses, etc.

Coconut Tree

The coconut tree also named Nux Indica, Tree of life, Nariyal, Thenga, and jawz hindī. Name coconut comes from the old Spanish and Portuguese word coco. Coco means Skull or head. 

Since the three indentations on the coconut shell resemble facial features or skull or head. Coconuts are a cultural icon of the tropics and ubiquitous in coastal tropical regions.

Human beings are using coconut for thousands of years. The origin of coconut is a disputed subject. Its origin is either Asia or South America, or on islands in the Pacific.

It is to be said that the coconut tree was present in the Indian subcontinent before the 1st century BCE. Around 545 the Cosmas Indicopleustes mentioned coconut as "the great nut of India" in his Topographia Christiana. That is the first or earliest direct description of coconut in Indian literature.

Sindbad sailor’s story "One Thousand and One Nights" is another early mention of literary evidence. In this story, Sindbad on his fifth voyage bought and sold a coconut.

Religious as well as the cultural significance of coconut is there in certain societies. Coconut is used in Hindu rituals in India. It is used in wedding and worship rituals in Hinduism. It also features in the origin myths of several societies of Vietnam.

A palm tree family member coconut is the only living species of the genus Cocos. And term coconut can be referred to whole coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit.

Coconut Trees

The coconut tree gives 75 fruits per year and it grows up to 30 meters tall.  Full sunlight and copious precipitation are preferable for Coconut trees. Cold weather is intolerant for the Coconut tree.

Coconut species are affected by many diseases and insects and are harmful to commercial production. India, Indonesia, and the Philippines are supplying 74% of the world's supply of coconuts.

Scientific name of coconut tree/coconut tree scientific name

Cocos nucifera L is the scientific name of coconut tree.  Cocos nucifera var. synphyllica Becc , Calappa Nucifera (L.) Kuntze, Cocos nana Griffith, Cocos indica Royle, are some other scientific names of coconut.

Coconut

A palm tree family member coconut is the only living species of the genus Cocos. And term coconut can be referred to whole coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit.

Coconut Plant

The coconut plant or tree is a tall tree and it grows up to 100 feet around 30 meters. Its pinnate leaves are 4 – 6 meters long and pinnae 60–90 cm (2–3 feet) long. 

In growing conditions after giving proper care, it produces its first fruits in six to ten years. For peak production 15 to 20 years required.

Old leaves of this tree break cleanly and fall down, leaving the trunk smooth. Mature coconut tree often gives less than 30 fruits per year but it can give up to 75 fruits per year.

King coconut, and Macapuno and Maypan coconut and more varieties are grown. The color of the fruit, the taste of coconut water, and other genetic factors vary. Dwarf varieties of the coconut tree are also available.

About Coconut Tree

The classification of the coconut plant is done on the basis of its stature or height. The first is Tall palms and the second is Dwarf palms.

Tall palms: are widely planted commercially as well as households. They flower after 6 – 10 years of planting as they are slow maturing. And grow up to a height of 20-30 meters. 

The economic life of this type of coconut is 60 – 70 years. They are long-lived, normally cross-pollinating, and therefore considered to be heterozygous.

Dwarf palms: these are mutants from tall types with short stature. At the age of 20 years 8 – 10 meters. They start flowering at the age of 3 years and less than one-meter height. 

Compare to tall palm dwarf palms have a short productive life of 30-40 years. Dwarf palms are self-pollinating and hence considered to be homozygous.

Parts of coconut tree

The following are the parts of the coconut tree. Almost all parts are used by human beings.

• The husk.
• The shell.
• The flesh.
• The water.
• The leaves.
• The heart.
• Spathe and inflorescence.
• The trunk.
• The roots

Leaves of coconut tree  

In the beginning, leaves of coconut trees are in the form of pinnae fused together and appear as entire leaves. When 8 - 10 leaves formed they tend to split into leaflets.

Leaves of a coconut tree  

Then stem starts to form with a single terminal growing point where new leaves develop. A common adult coconut tree produces twelve to sixteen leaves per year.

Thirty to forty leaves are there in one crown. And the same number of leaf primordia. And a 'sword leaf' is emerging in it before 30 months. A mature leaf of coconut has around 200-250 leaflets and is about 3 - 4 long.

Three years is the life span of the leaf of coconut. After three years its sheds and left a permanent scar on the trunk.

Coconut Flowers (Inflorescence)

In coconut plants, Flowering occurs continuously. The coconut tree is monoecious. It produces males as well as females both flowers on the same inflorescence. Sometimes it produces bisexual flowers.

Coconut Flowers

Hence it may be polygamomonoecious. The male flower is much smaller than the female flower. In coconut some dwarf varieties are self-pollinating otherwise they are largely cross-pollinated.

Fruit of coconut    

A full-grown full-sized fruit of coconut weighs about 1.4 kg. And it has been estimated that around 6000 full-grown coconuts to produce one tone of copra.

Coconut has three layers exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp like other fruits. Hence botanically it is not a true nut. It is a drupe. The husk of the coconut is exocarp and mesocarp.

Fruit of Coconut

The endosperm of coconut is its nuclear phase and suspended within the coconut water. With the development of cellular layers of endosperm deposit along the walls of the coconut. It then becomes edible coconut "flesh".

Outmost layer exocarp is often removed in coconuts sold in the shops of non-tropical countries. The mesocarp, called coir is composed of fiber. Coir has many traditional and commercial uses.

When we remove the husk from the shell, three eyes are clearly visible for us. These three eyes are germination pores or micropyles.

Coconut Trunk

The coconut trunk is cylindrical in shape. In rural areas, the trunks of coconut trees were turns into planks. These trunks were used to board and partition houses. They were also used as great pillars.

Coconut tree root

The coconut tree root system is a fibrous root system. There are a large number of roots in coconut. Coconut tree roots are thin and grow outward from the plant near the surface. Some of the roots penetrate deep into the soil for stability.

Coconut tree roots

This type of root system is a characteristic of grass species and is called as the fibrous or adventitious root system. The tree grows new roots regularly and hence decayed roots are replaced.

Coconut tree height

A coconut tree is a tall tree and it grows up to 100 feet around 30 meters. The number of leaf scars on the stem can be correlated to find the age of adult coconut trees.

The approximate age of the palm in years can be found by dividing 13 to the number of scars on the stem. This may be important in estimating the age of existing palms used as parent materials inbreeding.

Coconut cultivation

A hot and wet tropical climate is necessary for coconut cultivation. Warmth and moisture are needed around the year to grow well the plant as well as its fruit.

It is very difficult to establish coconut in a dry climate. In drought conditions, fruit tends to be shed.  Older leaves become desiccated and the new leaves do not open well.

Hence in a dry climate frequent irrigation is necessary. Cultivation extent in the tropics is in danger as the number of habitats, such as mangroves.

Coconut Cultivars

A number of traditional as well as commercial cultivars of coconut. Such as tall cultivars, dwarf cultivars, and hybrid cultivars (hybrids between tall and dwarfs). Different cultivars have different qualities.

West coast tall cultivar from India is more drought resistant. Hainan Tall' cultivars from China are colder tolerant. Jamaican tall dwarf cultivars are highly affected by the plant disease while Malayan dwarf has shown some promising resistance to the same lethal yellowing disease
.

Weight, shape, and seed size and copra thickness are important aspects in the selection of cultivars. In India and Sri Lanka ‘Fiji dwarf ‘cultivars used entirely in fruit stalls. They produce very sweet coconut water with orange-colored husks (king coconut).

Coconut tree plantation

The propagation of coconut is done by seedlings. These seedlings are raised from selected seed nuts. Nine to twelve-month-old seedlings are used for planting. 

Coconut tree plantation

Among 9 – 12-month-old seedlings, select seedlings which have 6 -8 leaves and 10 – 12 cm collar girth.

Rocky and shallow soil sites should be avoided as low-lying areas form water stagnation. It forms clay, and clay soil should be avoided in a coconut plantation.

The coconut tree plantation site should have a proper supply of moisture. It may through well-distributed rainfall or through irrigation.

1mx1mx1m pit size is recommended in loamy soils with a low water table.  1.2m x 1.2m x 1.2m pit is recommended in laterite soils with underlying rocks. And less than 0.75m x 0.75m x 0.75 m pit size is needed in sandy soils. 

In planting, spacing depends upon the planting system, soil type, etc. 7.6-meter distance between two seedings are recommended.

Pits should be filled with topsoil and powdered cow dung. It should be composted up to a depth of 50 to 60 cm. Then to accommodate the nut attached to the seedling take small pit inside. 

Green Coconut

Then plant seeding in a small pit and fill up with soil. To avoid water stagnation, press the soil well. In the case of a white ant attack is expected, then apply 5 grams of Sevidol 8G inside the small pit before planting.

To improve the physical condition in laterite areas, apply 2 kg common salt per pit. It is also recommended to bury 25 to 30 coconut husks per pit in layers. That will help in moisture conservation.

After planting, the first two years seeding should be irrigated twice a week during the dry season. To the transplanted seedlings shading must be done. To achieve higher productivity from the first-year Regular manuring is essential.

Rhinoceros beetle, the red palm weevil, the black-headed caterpillar, the cockchafer beetle, and the coreid bug are the major insect pests of the coconut palm.

To control it we should hook out the beetle with the help of beetle hook, from the attacked palms. We can fill up the topmost three-leaf axils with fine sand (200g) + Sevidol 8G(25g) thrice in April, September, and December as a prophylactic measure.

We can also place 10.5g naphthalene balls in the leaf axils. And then cover it with fine sand. To destroy the larva, it is to be practice to spray 0.01% Carbaryl (50WP) in the breeding sites of the beetle once in 45 days.

Uses of coconut tree or Use of coconut tree    

Coconut the most useful tree in the world is popularly known as “Kalp Wruksh” or tree of life. Almost every part of this tree has been used by humans. It serves human beings in many forms.

Coir

Among many other uses, some of these are folk medicine, fuel, food, cosmetics, and building materials. Coconut milk extracted from and the inner flash called ‘copra’ is the regular part of the diets of many people in the tropics and subtropics.

Ripe and Matured coconut are used as edible seed and its dried flesh is called copra. It is also processed for oil and plant milk from the flesh. 

Oil and milk derived from it are used in soaps and cosmetics.  It is also commonly used in frying in particular in cooking.

Coir is obtained from the fibrous husk and Charcoal is obtained from the hard shell.

Long pinnacle lives, fibrous husks, and hard shells can be used as material to make a variety of products. Such as for furnishing and decoration.

Coconut water nutrition 

Coconut water is a natural beverage and a good source of many nutrients, which is delicious, nutritious, and extremely good for us. It may have antioxidant properties.

Drinking Coconut water

It may benefit against Diabetes, may prevent kidney stones, may reduce blood pressure, and may support heart health. Coconut water is a delicious source of hydration. It may beneficial after Exercise.

A well develops green coconut fruit contains 0.5 to 1 cup (240 milliliters) of coconut water. In one cup of coconut water nutrition contains 46 calories.

Apart from this, it contains, Proteins 2 grams, Fiber 3 grams, carbs 9 grams, 10 % of the RDI Vitamin C, 6% of the RDI Calcium, 11% of the RDI Sodium, 17% of the RDI Potassium, 17% of the RDI Manganese, and 15% of the RDI Magnesium.   

Coconut milk nutrition 

Coconut milk is obtained from the white coconut meat or coconut flesh of coconut fruit. Coconut meat or coconut flesh mixed in water to make coconut milk.

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk contains around 50% of water. It has a rich, creamy texture with a thick consistency. It is a calorie-rich food that contains high levels of saturated fat.

Coconut milk is a good source of several vitamins and minerals It may benefit in weight loss as well as its benefits in heart health. It also boosts the immune system.

Coconut milk nutrition may vary by product. In general, one cup of coconut milk (240 grams) contains 552 calories. It contains Fiber 5 grams, Carbs 13 grams, Protein 5 grams, Fat 57 grams. 

It also contains 11% of the RDI Vitamin C, 21% of the RDI Selenium, 110% of the RDI Manganese, 32% of the RDI Copper, 18% of the RDI Potassium, 22% of the RDI Magnesium, 22% of the RDI Iron and 10% of the RDI Folate. 

Conclusion

Here we find about coconut tree in English in detail. The coconut tree is very useful in human life. Each part of this tree is used in different ways.

Coconut Dessert 

Coconut oil, coconut water, coconut milk, copra or coconut meat, coir, folk medicine, fuel, food, cosmetics, and building materials and several other products have been made from a coconut tree.


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