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Coconut tree Facts

Coconut tree Facts
Coconut tree is a plant that belongs to the family Arecaceae. There are over 150 species of coconuts that can be found in 80 different countries throughout the world. Coconut tree grows only in the tropical climate. This plant live on the sandy soil, requires a lot of sunlight and regular rainfalls. Coconut tree does not tolerate low temperatures and low percent of humidity. Cultivated plants are prone to insect attacks which can decrease production of fruit worth of hundreds of million dollars. Coconut is important part of human diet because it contains valuable vitamins and minerals. Other than that, coconuts are used in the production of various wooden items, in the construction industry, in the manufacture of beauty products and as a fuel.
Interesting Coconut tree Facts:
Coconut trees can be dwarf and tall. Dwarf coconut trees can reach 20 to 60 feet in height, while tall coconut trees grow to the height of 98 feet.
Coconut tree has 13 to 20 inches long pinnate leaves. Leaflets have lanceolate shape. They can reach 24 to 35 inches in length.
Coconut tree is attached to the ground via strong fibrous root system.
Coconut tree develops male and female flowers. They mature at different time to avoid self-pollination. Two types of flowers can be distinguished by size: female flowers are larger.
Fruit of a coconut tree is botanically known as drupe. Fruit becomes fully ripe after one year.
Under optimal weather conditions, coconut tree can produce 75 fruits per year, but that happens extremely rare. More often, coconut tree produces 30 fruits each year.
Ripe coconut has 3.2 pounds of weight. White, edible flesh of coconut can be consumed raw or dried. Dry version of coconut flesh is called "copra". Production of one ton of copra requires 6000 coconuts.
Each year, 61 million tons of coconuts are produced and distributed throughout the world.
In certain parts of the world, people use trained monkeys to collect coconuts instead of them.
Coconut is very popular and often consumed fruit. Other than the flesh, coconut water, milk and oil can be used in the preparation of various healthy dishes.
Coconut oil has wide application in cosmetic industry. Coconut oil is part of various lotions because it smells nice and increases the moisture of the skin.
Sap extracted from the closed flower is used for the production of alcoholic beverage called "coconut vodka".
Wooden parts of coconuts are used in the manufacture of furniture, decorative objects, drums, containers and even canoes.
All parts of the coconuts can be exploited, even their hard shells. Husk and shell are discarded as waste after extraction of the fruit. They are used as fuel and source of charcoal. Coconut oil is used as a substitute for diesel fuel.
Coconuts can survive up to 100 years in the wild.


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