CoconutsPosted 10 years ago under Uncategorized

Coconuts are a great source of nutrition and has many health benefits. For example, coconut water is useful as a source of heartburn relief as it acts as an acid neutralizer. (1) It is consumed in many forms including fresh or dried and the liquid inside is consumed as coconut water, juice, or milk. Coconut oil has many health benefits as well, including boosting energy, burning fat, helping thyroid problems. It has anti-bacterial properties as well. (2)

Taxonomy

The coconut comes from the Cocos nucifera tree.

Kingdom (Plantae) > Angiosperms > Monocots > Commelinids > Order (Arecales) > Family (Arecaceae) > Subfamily (Arecoideae) > Tribe (Cocoeae) > Genus (Cocos) > Species (Cocos nucifera)

Description

The coconut grows on a slender palm tree that range in height from 35 to nearly 100 feet tall. The palm leaves can be 13 to 20 feet long. Pale white and yellow flowers grow at the base of the leaves in clusters than contain both male and female flowers. The coconut itself, a type of drupe fruit, is typically seven to twelve inches in diameter and has a hard, fibrous outer shell covering the seed. It weighs about 3 to 5 pounds. Inside the seed is the coconut meat and water. As the coconut matures, the water accumulates fat and becomes coconut juice or milk. (3)

Distribution

The coconut palm tree grows in tropical environments and is not cold tolerant. (4) It is found in tropical environments around the world though its exact origins are a mystery. It is theorized that it originated in the Americas since it was found in the Bahamas and other areas in the Americas before European contact. (5) It can tolerate a wide range of soils and ph levels. (6)

Nutritional Information

Coconuts are a good source of important vitamins and minerals. It is high in copper, manganese, iron, selenium, phosphorus, zinc, and B vitamins. (7) Sugar made from coconuts is a good substitute for other sugars as it is lower on the glycemic index than other sugar sources. (8) It is high in important fatty acids and cytokinins. (9)

Commercial Cultivation

A single coconut tree is capable of producing anywhere from 75 to 200 coconuts a year if cared for properly but poor cultivation techniques results in a lower yield of 30 to 50 fruits a year. (10) A coconut tree takes six to ten years to start producing fruit and reaches maximum production in 15 to 20 years. (11)

Diseases, Pests, Predators

Common diseases include bud rot, grey leaf blight, nut fall, stem bleeding disease, and cadang-cadang. These, and other diseases, are usually caused by fungi. Common pests include nematodes and mealy bugs. (12)

Sources

(1) http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com/issue/15-natural-heartburn-remedies/
(2) http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com/issue/4-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/
(3) http://www.botanical-online.com/english/coconut_tree.htm
(4) http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/coconut/growing-coconut-palm-trees.htm
(5) http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/coconut.html
(6) https://www.plantvillage.com/en/topics/coconut/infos/diseases_and_pests_description_uses_propagation
(7) http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/coconut.html
(8) http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com/healthy-sugar-alternatives/
(9) http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/coconut.html
(10) http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/coconut.aspx
(11) http://www.botanical-online.com/english/coconut_tree.htm
(12) https://www.plantvillage.com/en/topics/coconut/infos/diseases_and_pests_description_uses_propagation