Coconut palm. Coconut

palm trees and present time many people are fed, watered and clothed. And the most useful of them is the coconut palm. Today it is on the first positions in the list of the most important. The coconut palm grows in the hot tropics and is their symbol. Its homeland is the Malaysian archipelago.

This palm tree is found on various islands, shores of the seas and oceans. It is distinguished by a high trunk (about 30 meters), which, as a rule, is inclined towards the sea. Groves of coconut palms occupy almost all the islands located in

These plants are not afraid of salt water. On the contrary, for normal growth, this palm requires almost 1.5 kg of salt per year. The coconut palm begins to bloom at the age of 7 to 12 years. Appearance its inflorescences resemble a panicle, and their height sometimes reaches two meters. The fruits of this palm - coconuts - ripen for quite a long time, throughout the whole year.

From above, such a nut is covered with a hard peel, and from the inside it is lined with a layer of fibers. An unripe nut contains about 0.5 liters of sweet and sour, transparent liquid, which is rich in vitamins and sugar. This is an excellent drink in hot weather. As the fruit ripens, this liquid turns from clear to white, hence the name "coconut milk". Then it gradually becomes pulp. This process is called coconut endosperm change.

The seed is contained in a stone with three holes, which is very hard. Only one of these holes is intended for the germination of the embryo, the rest are simply overgrown. The weight of a mature nut is from one to two kilograms. After maturation, they fall into the water and are carried downstream. Having sailed in the sea for more than 100 days, they can even germinate in water.

Around the world, the coconut palm has settled without human help. It is quite deserved and justified in the tropics, it is called the "tree of life". So, oil is squeezed out of the pre-dried endosperm (copra), and the cake is given to livestock feed. Strong and elastic fiber is used for weaving ropes, making brushes and mats.

Excellent jewelry, buttons and dishes are obtained from hard bones. Sweet juice is extracted from the inflorescences, which is subsequently processed into sugar, alcohol, and wine. wood serves durable material for the construction of housing, the roofs of which are covered with the leaves of the same palm tree. For these houses, the coconut tree provides fuel and furniture.

Palm trees are considered today and the best representatives ornamental plants grown at home. They are very popular in home interior design. These guests from the tropical zone bring a piece of exotic countries into the house.

But it is precisely this belonging to the exotic tropics that must be taken into account when decorating a particular room. So, house palm trees love high humidity and a large number of sun. Therefore, they should be located exclusively in spacious rooms with large windows in which there is a lot of sunlight.

Subject to this rule, the foliage of these plants will be able to please with its good growth and decorative effect. But it is very important to remember that these palm trees absolutely cannot stand drafts. Yes, and on cold windowsills or on they will not take root: their roots are very sensitive to cold, so they must always be warm.

It is worth noting that not all decorative palm trees like direct sunlight. For many, diffused light falling through translucent curtains is enough. Watering should be, as a rule, plentiful, and in winter - moderate. In any case, the ground should not be too wet, but only damp. And in order for palm trees to respond with rich, bright foliage, do not forget about frequent and regular spraying.

Synonym: coconut.

The coconut palm is one of the most widespread and valuable for humans. tropical trees. In the tropics, the coconut palm is not only a source of food, but also a livelihood for numerous farmers. The coconut tree is on the list of ten the most important trees peace.

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In medicine

Coconut oil, obtained from palm fruits, is used in official medicine in the manufacture of medicinal ointments and suppositories. Coconut milk is used in folk medicine countries where the plant grows with severe vomiting to prevent dehydration. Also in traditional medicine, coconut milk is used as a diuretic and antiseptic.

Coconut oil has long been used in Ayurveda (the traditional system of Indian medicine).

Contraindications and side effects

It is better not to use coconut palm fruits for people with a tendency to overweight and diarrhea. Coconuts are also contraindicated in hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.

There are almost no contraindications for the use of coconut oil, however, with individual intolerance, allergic reactions or food poisoning may occur. The use of coconut during pregnancy, breastfeeding and in childhood is recommended strictly after consultation with a specialist.

In cooking

For culinary purposes, the inside of the coconut palm fruit is used, as well as coconut milk. Coconut milk is a pleasant-tasting and thirst-quenching clear liquid found inside an unripe coconut. The content of the ripened nut is called "copra". Copra has white or cream, it is soft, sweet and buttery.

In Indonesia, India, and the Caribbean, unripe coconuts are served whole, but with the top cut off. Coconut milk is drunk through a straw, and the delicious white flesh is scooped out with a special long-handled spoon.

Dried and crushed coconut pulp is highly valued in the food industry and is primarily used to produce coconut oil. Coconut oil is colorless, has a pleasant smell and taste, does not smoke when burned and is widely used in cooking and in the confectionery industry.

Partially defatted and ground coconut copra is used as a flavoring in baby food.

From the inflorescences of palm trees, juice is extracted containing about 14.6% sugar, from which crystalline palm raw sugar is prepared by evaporation Brown. After fermenting the juice of inflorescences, wine is obtained, and after distillation - alcoholic drink"arrack" ("arrack").

Coconut oil is used as a sweetener in coffee and can also be substituted. sunflower oil when frying food. It has a high smoke point, so much less harmful substances are released from it during frying.

Palm oil can be used to dress salads and spread on toast, and it can be used in baked goods, including pies, cookies, or bakery products, the recipes of which include a large amount of vegetable fats. You can also grease pastry molds with coconut oil before baking to prevent food from sticking to the walls.

Dried and crushed coconut pulp is sprinkled on confectionery, it is added to cereals, desserts, milk soups, ice cream, tropical cocktails, sweets. Coconut milk is a valuable food item for vegetarians and vegans, and coconut water is popular with dieters. Based on coconut milk, coconut cream and coconut water, many Asian dishes, various drinks, cocktails, desserts and convenience foods are prepared.

In cosmetology

Coconut oil in cosmetology is actively used as a nourishing and rejuvenating agent for the skin. Since the time of Queen Cleopatra, its beneficial properties have been known.

The use of coconut oil helps to maintain the health and beauty of any type of skin, but it is especially good for dry, flaky, rough and fading facial skin.

The oil has excellent nourishing, softening and moisturizing properties, and after application forms a kind of protective film on the skin, which maintains its optimal moisture balance for a long time.

In addition, coconut oil not only smoothes the skin and fine wrinkles, but also improves the overall tone, firmness and elasticity of the skin. Experts recommend coconut oil for sensitive, inflamed and irritated skin.

Coconut oil is also good for protective agent from the sun and as a moisturizer after sunbathing.

Pure coconut oil can be used both instead of a nourishing night cream and as a protective face cream in severe frost and wind.

Coconut oil can be rubbed into the skin around the nails, this will relieve the skin of dryness and peeling of the cuticle. Also, coconut oil is used instead of hygienic lipstick and lip balms.

You can also use coconut oil for hair care: it is a great replacement for a store-bought conditioner or hair balm. Warm coconut oil hair mask will help to strengthen and add shine to the hair. Massaging your scalp with coconut oil will help get rid of dandruff and prevent it from reappearing.

Coconut oil can be used to remove makeup and waterproof mascara from eyelashes. If you apply a little oil to your eyelashes before going to bed, it will strengthen them. Coconut oil can also be used as a shaving cream, as it improves razor glide and hydrates the skin.

Coconut oil is used in aromatherapy. A light massage of the scalp and temples with fingertips lubricated with coconut oil relieves stress and relaxes well.

Also, coconut oil has a pronounced foaming and cleansing properties, which allows it to be used in soap making.

In other areas

At home

Coconut oil - excellent tool to care for kitchen utensils(chopping boards, spoons, spatulas) and furniture. It has a disinfectant property, and also protects the tree from drying out. Coconut palm oil restores luster to tarnished metal objects and helps to remove rust from their surfaces, adds shine to leather goods, and removes chewing gum residue or stains from any surface, even carpets and hair.

Instead of chemical liquids and tablets for lighting the barbecue, you can use cotton balls pre-moistened with coconut oil.

In crop production

The coconut palm is a huge tree, so it is recommended for growing in spacious conservatories. For good growth the coconut tree needs warm temperature air throughout the year, but especially in winter. AT summer period the plant requires abundant watering, but without excessive soil moisture. From October, watering should be gradually reduced. Palm transplantation is carried out every two years. When transplanting, pay attention to the position of the nut, it should partially peek above the soil level.

You can also grow your own coconut palm from a nut, there are several ways to do this. by the most the best option is the purchase of a finished palm seedling. After the purchase, the sprout should be transplanted into a special soil. Then you need to put the transplanted seedling in a well-lit place and water regularly.

Another way is to grow the palm directly from the fruit of the coconut palm. Remove the outer layer of the nut. Scald the cut fruit hot water, and then fill the nut halfway warm water and place in a warm place. After about two months, the coconut will begin to sprout. After the sprout appears, you can carefully transplant the coconut into the ground. An important note - when transplanting, only the lower half of the nut should be in the ground.

In other areas

Almost all parts of the coconut palm are used by humans. Dishes, crafts, jewelry, souvenirs, musical instruments are made from the hard shell of coconut palm nuts, and valuable charcoal. The fibrous shell of the nut shell (coir) after soaking turns into a hard fiber for mattresses, brushes, ropes.

From the trunks of coconut trees they build houses, make furniture, boat hulls and masts, and the leaves are used as roofing material. Ropes, mats, brushes, brooms are made from hardwood fibers.

In tropical countries, coconut oil is experimentally used as a alternative fuel for vehicles. Copra cake is fed to dairy cattle in the tropics.

An interesting experiment was done many times by scientists in the Hawaiian Islands. An open coconut nut was exposed to the sun, then electrodes were attached to it, so it turned into a battery capable of supplying energy to an ordinary transistor receiver for a month. It turns out that in sunlight and heat in the pulp of the nut, the rapid development of a special type of bacteria begins - Aeromonas formicas. They form formic acid ( component the so-called biochemical heat cell), which is the basis of the electrolyte for charging transistor batteries. The rapid activity of microorganisms leads to the decomposition of organic substances, turning the nut into a miniature thermal power plant.

Classification

Coconut palm (lat. Cocos nucifera L.) belongs to the genus Coconut (lat. Cocos L.), the Palm family (lat. Palmae L.).

Botanical description

Coconut tree - high fast growing tree, reaching a height of up to 30 meters and a diameter of 50-60 cm. The roots are adventitious, horizontal. The trunk is slender, unbranched, curved, with annular scars from fallen off leaf sheaths. At the end of the tapering trunk is a crown of 20-30 pinnate leaves up to 6.5 m long and about 1 m wide, with large sheaths. The plant is monoecious, dioecious, pollinated by insects. Inflorescence - panicle up to 2 m long. Around each inflorescence is a woody covering leaf that opens when flowering. Different-sex flowers are collected in one inflorescence: pistillate flowers are at the bottom of the inflorescence, staminate ones are at the top. Perianth tiled, yellowish. Male inflorescences bloom earlier. After the end of the flowering of male flowers, female flowers bloom so that there is no self-pollination. Therefore, the female flowers of the coconut palm are pollinated only by the pollen of other plants.

The fruit is a coconut, a fibrous drupe consisting of an outer fibrous mass, a hard shell, and an endosperm-seed. The endosperm is at first liquid, transparent, sweet and sour, very pleasant in taste. One nut can contain up to 0.5 liters of this refreshing liquid. Gradually, droplets of fatty oil appear in it, an emulsion is formed white color- coconut milk. It has an even more pleasant taste, but not so thirst quenching. Gradually, the endosperm hardens, turning into a white pulp, similar in consistency to boiled chicken protein.

Spreading

The coconut palm is believed to be native to Southeast Asia. In the wild and in cultivation, the coconut palm is distributed in the tropical zones of both hemispheres of the Earth. To date, the largest coconut palm plantations are in Malaysia, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Coconut also grows in Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Tanzania, China, Jamaica, Brazil, Nigeria, Vietnam, etc.

Procurement of raw materials

Palm fruits, which are intended for fresh consumption, are harvested 7 months after the start of flowering of the plant.

At a temperature of 0-1.5 ° C, nuts can be stored for up to 2 months, in room conditions- up to 2 weeks.

Fruits for the production of copra and coir are harvested at full maturity, approximately 11 months after flowering.

In ripe coconuts, the thick fibrous shell is peeled off and then the shell is split in two with a knife blow. The halves of the nut are dried a little and the pulp is scraped out.

In the manufacture of coconut oil, the hardened flesh of the coconut is first separated from its hard shell, then the shelled copra is dried and crushed. After that, coconut oil with a characteristic delicate, sweetish aroma is obtained from coconut raw materials by pressing.

The most commonly used method is hot pressing, in which at least 300 g is obtained from 1 kilogram of copra. vegetable oil. A more gentle cold-pressed technology that produces an oil with the highest nutritional and biological value, is more expensive due to the low yield of the finished product.

Coconut oil comes in unrefined (unrefined) and refined (deodorized, high-pressure refining). Refined coconut oil differs from unrefined in color and transparency. Also, refined coconut oil practically does not have a characteristic pleasant tropical aroma.

Chemical composition

The edible part of the coconut contains from 48.2 to 51.7% dry matter; 26-55% sugars, predominantly glucose and fructose; 3.2-3.6% proteins; 27.2-39.0% fat; 3.0-6.6% fiber. Ash elements 0.8-1.0%, they are represented by phosphorus (83-116 mg / 100 g), calcium (13-23 mg / 100 g), iron (1.7-2.5 mg / 100 g), potassium (256-555 mg/100 g), sodium (7-23 mg/100 g). Vitamin complex fruits consists of vitamins B1 (0.03-0.05 mg / 100 g), B2 (0.02-0.04 mg / 100 g), B5 (0.5-0.8 mg / 100 g) and vitamin C (up to 6 mg / 100 g). Also contains vitamin K and PP. Coconut is rich in essential and nonessential amino acids, phytosterols, omega-6 fatty acids, saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Pharmacological properties

Beneficial features coconut oil due to it chemical composition. Lauric acid, found in coconut oil, increases the level of "good" cholesterol, positively affecting the heart and blood vessels. Coconut oil improves metabolism due to the presence of saturated fats in its composition, which are easily absorbed and used by the liver for energy, and also stimulate the burning of own fat. Saturated acids also improve the absorption of calcium and magnesium.

Application in traditional medicine

Coconuts were used by the locals in the treatment of poisoning and against cholera. In the Philippines, drops are prepared from the pulp of coconut nuts, which are used for ear pain in children.

Coconut milk in folk medicine is used externally for sexually transmitted diseases. From the ashes of coconut shells and wine, a composition is prepared for the treatment of ulcers and skin inflammations.

Using the antimicrobial properties of coconut oil, traditional healers prevent dirt and bacteria from getting into minor cuts and scrapes on the body by applying a little oil to them. Coconut oil also reduces itching from mosquito bites.

Coconut oil whitens teeth, improves skin condition, removes toxins and kills germs, these properties are used in the practice of Ayurveda, including for oral hygiene. Also, with a sore throat or cough, folk healers recommend taking a little coconut oil inside. pure form or add it to tea.

History reference

For the first time, a description of the coconut palm was found in the book of the famous Italian traveler Marco Polo (1254-1324). The name of this palm tree - coconut, comes from the Portuguese word "coco" (monkey). The nuts seemed to the sailors from the Vasco expedition to Gama like monkey muzzles.

Coconut palm has long been grown on ocean coasts, coral islands and atolls in almost all tropical regions of the world. For a long time it was believed that the palm spreads with the help of the floating properties of coconuts, which are carried by sea currents, storms and hurricanes. However, Thor Heyerdahl denied this version during his expeditions. He proved that coconuts in sea ​​water quickly lose their viability. Therefore, the main distributor of coconut palms is man.

The coconut palm is a tree that gives the natives a lot: food, drinks, textile material, building materials, and fuel. Therefore, Catholic missionaries in the 19th century called the coconut tree "the lazy tree", because according to the Bible, a person had to work "in the sweat of his face." Fearing the detrimental effect of the "paradise" way of life on the morality of the natives of the southern islands, the missionaries forced them to cut down these trees.

Literature

1. Coconut palm / Morshchikhina S. S. // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: [in 30 volumes] / ch. ed. A. M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.

The coconut palm is a tropical plant belonging to the Palm family, the only species of the genus Coconut. The homeland of this plant is not precisely established, it is suggested that it is Central America or Malaysia. All varieties are divided into two groups: dwarf and tall. Coconut got its name because of the resemblance to the muzzle of a monkey: translated from Portuguese, coco means "monkey".

Coconut palm is a tropical plant belonging to the Palm family, the only species of the genus Coconut.

The fruits of this plant, breaking away from the tree, are able to travel by sea for several months. The current brings them to new coasts, where they germinate and inhabit the coastal areas of tropical islands. The coconut palm grows not only in the hot tropics: some gardeners know how to grow a coconut at home.

Coconut fruit

Coconuts are sold peeled and dried in the sun. Green fruits do not tolerate long-term storage and transportation. When buying, shake the coconut to check for the presence of liquid in it. If the splash is inaudible, then the coconut is stale. Dry walnuts can be stored at a temperature not exceeding +5 °C. The opened fruit is stored no more than 2 days. For longer storage, the pulp can be frozen or dried.

The fruits are usually harvested with a ladder, as the coconuts grow on top of the palm tree. Monkeys are specially trained to help people get the fruits of this tree. They unscrew the coconuts and drop them down. Coconuts grow in groups of 15-20. For full maturation, they need 8–10 months, and this tree gives the first harvest at 7–9 years. 120 fruits per year - average productivity of this species.

Coconut fruit is usually called a nut, although botanically it is a drupe, which consists of several layers. What does a coconut look like?

• exocarp - outer shell;
• coir - fibrous shell;
• endocarp - inner hard shell.

The flesh of the coconut is its seed. This layer is filled with endosperm, a translucent white emulsion that thickens and hardens as it matures.

Raw material from coconut tree

Coconut palm is used in many industries, all parts of it are used:

1. Coconut water has antipyretic properties, quickly replenishes fluid reserves in the body. Coconut milk is used for sore throats. This is effective remedy prevention of atherosclerosis. Coconut has a positive effect on the human reproductive system, supports immunity, improves brain function, and normalizes the state of the nervous system.
2. Made from pulp coconut flakes used for the preparation of confectionery. Coconut oil is also obtained from the pulp. It is added to shampoos, balms, hair masks, creams and lotions. From coconut oil get margarine, make candles, soap.
3. Coconut shell is used as a substrate. The remains of the peel are crushed and processed, obtaining ready-made nutritious organic material. This soil has a high nutritional value.
4. The wood is used to make furniture and flooring. The Pacific Islanders use the leaves as roofing for their huts.
5. Coconut fibers (coir) are used for the manufacture of ropes, brushes, carpets, as fillers for orthopedic mattresses. High price of these products is due to the complex technological process their manufacture. The fibers are impregnated with latex to obtain a monolithic block that holds its shape and does not crumble.

Coconut fibers are used as fillers for orthopedic mattresses, as well as for the manufacture of carpets, ropes, brushes.

Coconut fiber has the following beneficial properties:

• environmental friendliness;
• the ability to resist the formation of rot, the appearance of insects and microorganisms;
• does not cause allergies;
• moisture resistance;
• durability.

Growing palm trees at home

Coconut grown at home will not bear fruit, but serve as an ornamental plant.

1. It makes no sense to germinate a nut bought in a store, because the endocarp, which is necessary for reproduction, is removed from them. Only unprocessed fruit will sprout.
2. Soak it for 2-3 days to swell and soak the fibrous layer. This is an imitation of a sea voyage after falling from a palm tree. AT vivo coconut grows at high temperature during the wet season.
3. The main condition for growing is a tropical climate. The plant loves moisture, heat and sun very much, but it is better to protect the plant from direct sunlight.
4. Use a shallow pot that is 1.5–2 times the size of the fruit in diameter. A quarter of the tank should be occupied by drainage.
5. The fruit is not buried completely, leaving a third on the surface. It can be planted both horizontally and vertically. When placed vertically, the side with which the fruit was attached to the palm remains at the bottom.
6. The soil must be kept moist at all times, but standing water is unacceptable.
7. For coconut palms, the optimum temperature is from 22 to 30 ° C without direct sunlight. The lower threshold is 13–15 °С.

Germination of coconut takes a lot of time - from 2 to 6 months. However, then the coconut palm will quickly grow. As the palm grows, it must be transplanted into a larger pot. When the plant becomes large and transplanting becomes difficult, you can replace upper layer soil with organic fertilizers.

The leaves of the plant need regular spraying or the installation of a tray filled with expanded clay with water. This will increase the humidity in the air.

Coconut is an exotic, amazing fruit that many people like for its unusual taste and amazing delicate aroma. For those who are fans of this product, in our article we want to talk about how and where coconuts grow.

The history of the appearance of coconut

Before talking about where coconuts grow, it is worth mentioning the history of this amazing plant. Oddly enough, but it is still not known exactly how such interesting palm trees appeared on the planet. But there are a number of legends, assumptions regarding this issue. It is difficult to judge how true they are. However, all botanists are still inclined to believe that the plant has a very ancient origin, its history goes back to those distant times when dinosaurs still roamed the earth.

Coconut fruits have an interesting property - they are incredibly light and waterproof. Since trees grow along the coasts of the oceans, ripe nuts fall into the water and are carried by currents to all corners of the planet. Almost all versions say that Southeast Asia, India, California, and the islands in the Pacific Ocean can be considered the birthplace of coconut palms. An interesting fact is that fossilized coconuts were discovered in New Zealand, it is also known that palm trees have been growing in India for 4000 years. Therefore, some scientists are inclined to believe that the coast can be considered the birthplace of the plant. indian ocean. In general, there are many opinions, and they are all quite different. However, it is reliably known that the place where the plant grows is the equatorial belt.

And coconuts? It would seem that this question is easy to answer: “Where it is warm ...” This judgment is partly true. But not all readers know that coconuts grow in Asia, Africa, Oceania, Central and South America. In total, the plant is widespread and safely yields crops in 89 countries around the world.

Ocean coasts are the places where coconuts grow in natural natural conditions. As we already mentioned, this is due to their way of moving through the water. But at present, coconut palms grow in many countries far from the coast, which is already the result of human activities.

Coconut palm

The uniqueness of the coconut palm lies in the fact that it is the one and only representative of the genus Coconut, belonging to the Palm family. There are only intraspecific varieties. The basis of classification is the size of the plant.

There are tall coconut palms that are widely used for commercial and home cultivation. The height of such plants is 25-30 meters. Such palms grow slowly in adulthood, and begin to bear fruit 6-10 years after planting. An interesting fact is that the coconut palm bears fruit for sixty years, and sometimes even longer. Each plant produces dozens of nuts every year. Such palms are cross-pollinated, and therefore they are planted in groups.

dwarf plants

Dwarf palms (coconut) grow up to only ten meters in height, they begin to bear fruit in three years, as soon as they reach one meter. Plants live much less than their large counterparts - only 30-40 years. Such palms are self-pollinating, and therefore they do not need relatives in the neighborhood.

Palm root system

Sometimes people wonder where coconuts grow: on a tree or on the ground? Do not confuse pineapples that actually grow on the ground with coconuts that grow on palm trees.

It should be understood that where coconuts grow, any other plant would quickly die. And palm trees feel safe for decades thanks to their root system. The peculiarity of plants is that they do not have taproots, but they are armed with many fibrous roots, which together look like a broom. And they grow from a thickening at the bottom of the trunk. Outer roots spread across horizontal surface, and the inner ones go down, penetrating to a depth of ten meters.

It is this unusual root structure that allows palm trees to grow beautifully on a sandy coast, which is subject to winds, ebbs and flows. But even such a system is sometimes not enough. Often you can see bizarre plants with curved trunks and roots washed out of the soil.

plant structure

The stem of the plant has no branches, it grows from one apical bud. It is called the heart of the coconut. It is a collection of folded leaf primordia. The trunk at the base in adulthood reaches eighty centimeters in diameter. The rest of the trunk has one diameter - forty centimeters. I must say that in the first years the plant develops very quickly and can produce a 1.5-meter increase in a year. But over time, the palm matures and begins to slow down in growth and adds only 10-15 centimeters. The stem of the plant does not have a cambium, and therefore it cannot repair damaged tissues. If a plant loses a single bud, then this leads to its death.

But adult palm trees grow 18,000 vascular bundles on their trunk, which help them withstand significant damage. We have already mentioned that in those regions where coconuts grow, storms, winds, high and low tides are not uncommon, and plants are sometimes injured.

The first leaves of the future palm tree, sprouting from a nut, look like feathers. Only after 8-10 first leaves begin to grow real ones. An adult plant produces 12-16 new leaves per year.

At the same time, up to 30-40 pieces grow on a palm tree. A mature coconut leaf is 3-4 meters long and is divided into 200-250 stripes. It remains on the trunk for three years, after which it disappears. And it leaves a scar on the tree. From such scars, you can determine the approximate age of the plant. To do this, divide the number of scars by thirteen. This will be the approximate age of the coconut palm.

flowering plant

Where do coconuts grow? Inflorescences are formed on the tree in the form of an ear, each of which is located in the bosom and has male and female flowers. female. There are always more men than women. Four months after the leaf is separated, the inflorescence germ appears, and the flowers themselves grow after another 22 months. And a year later, the shell of the inflorescence itself will open. First bloom male flowers and then women. Approximately 50-70 percent of flowers are not pollinated, especially in dry weather. And from pollinated fruits develop that ripen within a year.

What is a fruit?

Coconut fruits themselves are fibrous drupes. The young nut has a smooth green or red-brown surface on the outside. Ripe fruits are covered with fibers that are successfully used in various industries. National economy, and further inside there is a waterproof shell. It protects the core. It is thanks to this shell that coconuts travel the world. Inside the nut is covered with pulp (12 millimeters), and in the very center there is a liquid.

Where do coconuts grow?

We mentioned that typical place plant habitat is the equatorial belt. Where bananas and coconuts grow, they have long been industrial crops that are grown for further sale and processing. Plants not only decorate the coast, but are also planted in huge plantations.

For example, India is known as the birthplace of spices. However, the country is engaged not only in their cultivation. At first glance, it is difficult to say where coconuts grow in India. Yes, in principle, everywhere, including the famous Goa - this is an island that has a suitable climate and geographical position for cultivation of coconut palms, fruits. There are a huge number of plantations on which coconuts grow.

For example, the Pascoal plantation, located near the village of Khandepar, borders on a tributary of the Mandovi River. The owners of the land are engaged not only in the cultivation of coconuts, spices, nuts and mangoes, but also receive tourists. There are built cottages in which guests can stay. There are guided tours around the plantation, during which you can learn about how crops grow, what they do with them and what they are for.

In addition, there are a number of similar farms on the island that grow coconuts. These are the Savoy, Sakahari plantations, etc.

On the mainland, coconut palms also grow everywhere. However, there are some features. For example, in the central part of India, plants grow to the height of a five-story building, and the fruits themselves reach the size of a human head. Such a coconut weighs up to two kilograms.

But to the south, palm trees grow much lower, but at the same time their fruits are smaller. In general, it is worth noting that coconuts in India grow almost everywhere. Here they are very much loved and widely used in life products from them.

Where do coconuts grow? New Zealand, China, Cambodia, Mozambique, Guinea, Cameroon… The list of countries is incredibly long. In general, we can say that the plant grows in areas with a tropical climate, which is a real paradise for coconut palms.

Coconuts in Russia

In Russia? This plant can be found here only in botanical gardens or miniature options - in home greenhouses. Of course, it is unlikely that it will be possible to wait for fruiting at home, but there may be a small amount in the house. exotic plant. If you really want to plant a coconut, then the most the best place there will be a greenhouse for him. The care process itself is quite troublesome, but with a strong desire it is still worth a try. The most suitable are two types: walnut and Wedel. A high-quality ripe fruit should be half immersed in the ground and wait for the sprouts to appear. After a while, sprouts will appear from the coconut, which will turn into leaves. And later, a wide trunk will begin to form from them.

plant care

The plant likes warmth, but not extreme heat. The optimum temperature is 20 degrees. The coconut tree will need additional lighting. It is also worth remembering that the plant loves moisture, and therefore needs daily spraying and abundant watering during the warm period. The palm tree cannot be disturbed once again, and even more so transplanted, since the root system can be disturbed.

It is worth noting that coconuts are very common around the world. They are not only on the European continent. Of the countries of Europe, the plant is only in Spain, and even then not on the mainland, but on the Canary Islands, located near Morocco in Africa.

Instead of an afterword

Concluding the conversation about where coconuts grow (the photos are given by us in the article), I would like to say that the plant is associated in our imagination with white sandy beaches and the ocean, and therefore beckons with its exoticism. But do not forget that the fruit itself is incredibly useful. No wonder it is so popular in places of growth. Its pulp and oil are actively used in cooking. And nut milk is tasty and healthy. Of course, in our latitudes it is difficult to buy really tasty and good fruit, since coconuts are often removed while still green for transportation. Yes, and during transportation, coconuts deteriorate. But if you happen to visit tropical countries, be sure to try a real ripe fruit, you will surely appreciate its taste and aroma.

Many people call spruce a symbol of the evergreen taiga. The symbol of the sunny, hot tropics is the coconut palm. Everyone has a classic paradise in their mind - a tropical landscape with snow-white sandy shores, blue skies, bright sun, surprisingly clean, transparent, sometimes turquoise water and, of course, palm trees.

Where does coconut grow? The history of its appearance is not entirely known. You can learn about this and much more by reading this article.

It should be noted that the structure of its fruits contributes to the rather wide distribution of this exotic culture, which, due to its water resistance and ease, can swim on the waves and overcome in this way long distances while maintaining its freshness.

History of origin

Where does coconut grow? History says that, according to some sources, the coconut palm originated in the Malaysian archipelago. Fossil fruits have been found in New Zealand. It is also known that palm trees have been growing in India for 4000 years. Therefore, many scientists believe that this species palm trees originated on the coasts of the Indian Ocean.

So, perhaps the birthplace of coconut is Southeast Asia, Polynesia, India, the islands Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, South Florida, Caribbean and Southern California.

In fact, the tree is the most common and necessary in the tropics, and is practically the "tree of life". And this is true, because all parts of it are used in people's lives.

The coconut palm is one of the oldest trees in the world. globe that grew even in the age of dinosaurs.

Places of growth

In which country? This exotic fruit today exists both wild and cultivated in the Philippines, Africa, Sri Lanka, South America, India, Brazil, Thailand and the Antilles. All these countries have a rather hot tropical climate.

They are cultivated mainly in developing countries. The annual production of coconuts is astounding. Approximately 17 billion nuts are harvested annually where coconuts grow. The country of the Philippines is the world's leading producer. In addition to her - Indonesia, Malaysia and India.

This fruit is the most famous of the huge Palm family (about 1500). There are more than 360 ways to use it, and half of them are related to the use in cooking.

This plant is exclusively equatorial. Wide distribution is associated with the attitude of a person to this plant (the use of nuts, artificial planting).

growing conditions

Where does coconut grow? Photos with views of the sea coasts often have this beautiful as the main element. exotic tree. This plant in nature can be found along the coasts of the ocean and seas, and on the plains, but mainly with sandy soil.

This growth is connected with the fact that the only possible natural way moving coconuts - on the surface of the water. Moving to distant shores, coconuts, which have excellent waterproof properties, began to successfully conquer new territories. Palm trees that grow far from the coast are the result of human activity.

Coconut palm in natural conditions

Where the coconut grows, as it is commonly associated, there are clean beaches. This is where you can have a good rest, swimming in the warm gentle sea.

What is a coconut tree? A single trunk in the form of a pillar in a mature state can reach a height of 30 meters. It bizarrely bends under the influence of the weight of numerous fruits and various natural phenomena. The crown of the palm tree is crowned with large leaves up to 6 meters long.

At about 5 years of age, flowering begins, after which fruits soon appear in the form of drupe nuts. It takes 6 months for them to reach their mature size, but they become completely ripe only after a year. Typically, palm trees produce about 25 fruits per year, and ideally, the number of nuts can reach up to 70 pieces.

The palm tree has a total lifespan of about 90 years, so most often it represents a source of food and an object of property for many generations of aborigines.

Coconut cultivated

Where do coconuts grow in culture? in many hot countries. A practically artificially grown palm tree begins to bear fruit at the age of 7-9, and this continues for about 50 years. Fruits are arranged in groups of up to 20 pieces together. They fully mature within 9-10 months. The yield of one tree per year is 60-120 fruits.

The unique tree is the only representative of the Coconut genus, one of the most useful palms in the world.

Description of coconut

Where coconut grows, the fruits look a little different than people see them on the shelves. trading floors. Under natural conditions, the nut is much larger.

The outer fibrous shell (exocarp) of the nut protects it when it falls. Inner shell(endocarp) is a shell with 3 pores that look like eyes. They lead to three ovules, one of which develops into a seed, consisting of a white surface fleshy layer (12 mm thick) and endosperm (transparent and liquid - coconut water). The oil that appears in it, secreted by copra, slowly turns into a milky emulsion, and then, thickening, hardens.

Application

Wood is widely used for construction and fruits are used for food. However, it should be noted that for many people this palm tree can be a tree of death, since a hit by a coconut that has fallen on the head can even lead to death. lethal outcome. According to existing statistics, about 150 people die every year from the fall of these fruits. On average, the weight of a coconut is about 1 kilogram (3 kilograms are also found), and it beats on the ground with a force of 1 ton. Mostly beautiful natural material have residents of those countries where coconut grows.

reproduction

Coconut is propagated by nuts. To grow it at home, the fruit should be half placed in the prepared soil in a pot. Usually young plant- This is a bunch of flexible wide leaves. Then, more mature palms develop a trunk. However, the chances of getting fruits at home can be said to be zero (even in greenhouses).

Be sure to remember the following: in order to grow a coconut at home, you must use a mature fruit. This is an important condition.

It should be placed in soil containing a lot of sand, so that the eyes located at its base end up on the side (almost horizontal position).

To speed up the germination process, you need to constantly keep the substrate moist. You can spray a planted nut with a solution with a low content sea ​​salt. You can also place a pot of nuts in plastic bag, as this will help maintain the appropriate atmosphere (high humidity and temperature).

Coconut is a photophilous plant that needs at least 12 light hours for normal growth. Starting from May and throughout the summer, abundant watering is necessary 2 times a week, and usually one moderate watering is sufficient for this period. You can fertilize by special means for palm and mullein infusion.

For germinating sprouts optimum temperature is 24 ° C, and for an adult plant - about 22 ° C.

The following varieties of coconut palms are commonly used for growing at home: Weddel coconut and miniature.

Represents inner part endosperm, and its outer part is copra. The second is the source of coconut oil, which is quite a valuable product due to the content of various fatty acids in it. It is mainly used for health and cosmetic purposes.

It is the oily dried secondary endosperm of nuts. Copra consists of white or yellowish pieces covered with skin. Their thickness is 6-12 mm. One nut yields up to 500 grams of copra, which is an edible product containing 9% protein, 6% water, 16% carbohydrates and 67% fat.

Where coconut grows, harvesting copra at one time was almost the main occupation of the inhabitants of the islands in the tropics. Atolls (where there were few palms) were specially planted with coconut palms. Copra is a valuable commercial product that has long been traded on the South Seas. And today they are preparing it.

Filipinos are considered the biggest copra miners. It is harvested by both large companies and farmers.

It is worth noting that at improper drying copra may form on it molds producing a deadly poison (Aflatoxin). This most powerful carcinogen can cause liver disease. Copra should not be eaten, but it is sold. Oil is obtained from it, and it, obtained industrial way, harmless.

Coconut tree in Archeage

Where does coconut grow? Archeage (a Korean fantasy multiplayer online game) uses a coconut as one of its game elements. The action in the game takes place in the universe (fantasy world) ArcheAge. From coconuts here, as well as from any other fruits, you can make juice. Their most important purpose in ArcheAge is the production of the lacquer compound needed to create leather armor. Moreover, this varnish can either be sold or used to create your own equipment.

Where does coconut grow in this fictional country?

1. In swampy lowlands.
2. In the land of talking stones.
3. On the peninsula of dawn.

In ArcheAge, the coconut tree is one of those trees whose seedlings cannot be bought from the consortium merchants. And the fruits in the game are necessary for the production of some useful potions and the best armor.

In conclusion about the amazing properties of the product

In the period 1941-1945 (Pacific War), the conflicting parties used coconut water as an "alternative" to plasma in the treatment of the wounded. This is a fairly universal remedy, identical to human blood plasma.

In addition, coconut water is more nutritious than whole milk. It has no cholesterol and less fat. The inhabitants of the tropics have a surprisingly useful natural plant in all respects.