What is a coconut flower / blossom?

The Coconut tree/palm is one of the oldest flowering tree in the world, the coconut flowers blossom only after 6 to 10 years depending on the species.

The flowers develop inside a large green bud which is called 'The Spathe' which keep both male and female flowers. (A 'Spathe' is a large leaf that enclose the flower to keep certain plants such as palms,  arums, and dayflowers.)

The bud splits open as the flowers grow, the several branches inside have hundreds of tiny male flowers which look like lilies and few female flowers which look like small coconuts.

Flowering occurs continuously and with the help of the insects and wind the male flowers pollinate the female flowers. Once the female flowers are pollinated, they become mature coconuts after a period of 10 months.

Coconut sap is extracted from the coconut flowers to produce toddy (an alcoholic drink) and coconut nectar.

Where do coconut palms grow & why?

The coconut palm tree requires a favourable habitat to grow and bear fruit. It prefers areas with sandy soil, regular rainfall (At least 150cm per year) and lots of sunshine. Coconut trees do not require any shade.

Coconuts require temperatures above 24°C but they are impartial to cold weather. A Coconut is rarely seen in low humidity areas because it needs high humidity to grow. 

So even if the temperature is above 24°C without high humidity the tree will not thrive. The palm tree can withstand winter temperatures of 4-12°C , and long periods of frost are usually fatal. 

This is the reason why coconut trees are found in over 80 different countries around the world mainly to the south of the equator. 

How did the coconut get its name?

The Coconut is believed to have gotten its name in the 16^th Century, in Portuguese ‘Coco’ means ‘Monkey face’. This is because the three holes found at the base of the coconut have a resemblance to monkey’s facial features.

The modern coconut as we know, known to have existed during the Eocene Period (37 to 57 millions years ago) which was found in India and Australia. However, the origin of the coconut plant is the subject of debate since some scientific research suggests an Indo-Pacific origin (Pacific Ocean or Indian Ocean). While others see the origin in north western South America since the ‘Nipa’ fruit which is one example of an older palm fossil that has been found in the Americas.

Why is the coconut tree known as the tree of life?

The coconut tree or palm is also known as 'The Tree of Life'. In fact the Sanskrit name for the coconut palm is 'Kalpa Vriksha', meaning "tree which gives all that is necessary for living.”

In the tropics every part of the coconut tree is used in day to day life. There are many different uses for the coconut palm. The trunks of the tree are often used to make small boats, canoes or furniture. Coconut palm trunks are also being used to build small bridges or used to build the walls of small houses since the trunk is naturally strong and straight.

The coconut palm leaves provide material for baskets and roof thatches, they can also be stripped and tied together to make a broom. The ribs of the leaves are also sharpened to make spears and arrows.

The bud of an adult coconut palm can be eaten, they are also known as ‘heart of palm’. Heart of palm is often eaten in salads, this is often known as the ‘millionaire’s salad’ this is because the heart of palm is very rare.

The root of the coconut palm tree has its own uses it can be used as a dye, a mouthwash and a medicine for diarrhoea.

A coconut palm takes between 6 to 10 years to mature and bear fruit.

How tall does a coconut tree grow?

A coconut palm tree is probably the most well known of the palms. The botanical name is cocos nucifera. Although there are hundreds of varieties of coconut trees in terms of height they can be classified in to the tall variety and the dwarf variety. The dwarf tree grows up to 6 meters and the tall tree can grow up to an incredible 30 meters!

A Coconut tree requires humidity and a stable temperature to bloom. The trunk of a coconut palm is one to two feet in diameter. It has no branches but has crowns of leaves, which resembles a bunch of feathers with many segments and are usually about 3 meters to 3 meters long. 

You will find wild coconut trees on tropical seacoasts. When coconuts ripen, they fall from the tree and are often washed out to sea. This is one of the ways coconut trees propagate. When the coconuts are in contact with salty water they do not sprout but when the reach land with fresh water it starts to sprout. After about 6-10 years the tree will begin to bear fruit. Hybrid varieties these days could start producing coconuts much earlier.

A coconut palm tree could produce up to 200 coconuts a year, but the average is about 40 coconuts.

To find out more about how tall does a coconut palm tree grow :https://www.cocofina.com/blogs/everything-coconut/how-tall-does-a-coconut-palm-tree-grow