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| | Coconut palm (Latin Cocos nucifera) is a plant, belonging to palm family; unique species of genus Cocos. Coconut -- one of the few plants, whose scientific names do not go back to Greek roots. It originates from Portuguese coco -- "monkey", and is given because of stains on nut, which makes the nut look like a muzzle of monkey. Specific name is nucifera -- from Latin. nux --nut and ferre -- to bear.
Origin and distribution:
Native land of coconut palm tree is precisely unknown -- presumably, it comes from South East Asia (Malaysia). Now, it is available everywhere in tropics of both hemispheres, both in cultural as well as in wild-growing kind. It is cultivated in Philippines, Malaysian archipelago, Malay Peninsula, in India and Sri Lanka since prehistoric times. Coconut is plant on marine shores, preferring sandy soils. Expansion of its growth area was helped by human being and in natural manner: coconuts are water-proof and freely float on water and are easily carried far by ocean currents and also keeping its vitality.
External appearance:
Tall (upto 27-30m) slim palm tree. Trunk is 15-45 cm in diameter, smooth, in rings from dead leaves, is slightly inclined and wide at the base. Lateral branches are not present but brace roots often grow at the bottom. Leaves are pinnate, dense with 3-6 m length. Small yellowish unisex blossoms are collected by in cones, i.e, in turn -- alar panicles (length 1.2 - 2m), overhanging from tree top.
Fruit, is the coconut - drupaceous fruit, 15-30 cm long and rather round, weighing 1.5-2.5 kg. Outer cover of fruit (exocarp) is penetrated by fibers (coir); internal (endocarp) -- firm "shell", with 3 interstices, leading to 3 seed buds , of which only one develops into a seed. Seed consists of fleshy white colored surface in thickness of approximately 12 mm (pulp or palm nut) and endosperm. Endosperm, at first, is transparent liquid (coconut water) with oil drop in it, which is extracted by palm nut, and gradually turning into milk color emulsion (coconut milk) and then gets denser and harder.
Fruits grow in groups consisting of 15-20 pieces. Fruits completely ripen within 8-10 months. During cultivation, tree starts to fructify from 7-9 years and continues approximately till 50 years. Annually, one tree yields from 60 to 120 nuts. Nuts are collected when they are completely ripe (for palm nut and other. products) or one month prior to maturing (for coir).
They are wrongly called nuts: actually, they are not nuts but drupes - drupaceous fruits such as cherries and peaches.
Use:
Coconut palm tree -- one of tens of plants, which are most valuable for human being. Somehow or the other, all parts of the coconut tree are used.
Ripe endosperm (pulp) contains oils, mineral substances and vitamins. It is eaten raw or dried, which is later on used as additives in confectionery products and karri. Palm nut is also a valuable raw material for obtaining fat coconut oil, which is further used in manufacture of bathing soaps, candles and margarine. Traditionally, palm nut is obtained by arranging the split coconuts in places, illuminated by sun, for drying purpose. After some time, dried palm nut is separated and later on pulverized into chips. Remaining oil cake is used for feeding the cattle.
Unripe endosperm nuts --sourish - sweet coconut milk (though, it is correct to call “coconut water”) -- is used for drinking and in cookery. It quenches thirst very well and contains considerable quantity of vitamins, minerals and the inverted sugar. Coconut water, contained in nut, is so sterile, that during the Second World War, in case of emergency, it was used for intravenous purpose instead of physiologic saline. Unfortunately, it cannot be stored for long -- it cannot be pasteurized and upon heating, it coagulates.
Important product, prepared from coconut is the present coconut milk. It is made by keeping grated pulp in hot water to remove oil and aromatic components. As a result, milky-white transparent emulsion (17-20 percent fat content) with sweet coconut smell is obtained. After sometime, fat and water get separated (as in the case of cow milk) and thus, coconut cream is obtained. Coconut milk is an important element in many Asiatic cuisines.
Ropes, mats, brushes and so forth are made from fibers of fruit shells (coir) and also from fibers of leaves. Trunks are fine building material. Leaves are handed -over for weaving and serve as roofing material. Ware is made from shell of nuts. Besides, coconuts and especially coconut oil, is used in traditional medicine as anti-inflammatory, anti-scorbutic and diuretic. |
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