The husks can be used as flotation devices. What is the economic importance of coconut? Hindus often initiate the beginning of any new activity by breaking a coconut to ensure the blessings of the gods and successful completion of the activity. Predominantly, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, . It contributes 2 per cent to Sri Lankas GDP, 2.5 per cent to export earnings and 5 per cent to employment. Coconut Oil May Help Treat Acne Because coconut oil and its components may help reduce inflammation in the body, it may also aid in the treatment of acne. (2006). Coconuts take 12 months to fully mature and ripen. Many of the smallest coral islands in the Florida Keys are known to have abundant coconut palms sprouting from coconuts that have drifted or been deposited by ocean currents. [26][27] In Colombia, a single Cocos-like fruit was recovered from the middle to late Paleocene Cerrejn Formation. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Sri Lanka established its Coconut Development Authority and Coconut Cultivation Board and Coconut Research Institute in the early British Ceylon period.[109]. [158], The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club of New Orleans traditionally throws hand-decorated coconuts, one of the most valuable Mardi Gras souvenirs, to parade revelers. Coconut oil is also a main ingredient in Ayurvedic oils. It can be reduced further to yield coconut sugar also referred to as palm sugar or jaggery. It is offered during worship to a Hindu god or goddess. The importance of coconut palmoil subsequently decreased due to competition from other vegetable oils, particularly palm oil from Elaeis guineensis. Moisturize properly after washing your face. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. As of 2006, the U.S. annually imported 190 million pounds of coconut oil, whose worldwide trade reached $20 million. [161] It is used in horticulture in potting compost, especially in orchid mix. Inflorescence : Large, lateral arising from the axils of leaves, compound spadix, enclosed by large woody bract called spathe. This invertebrate builds armor from coconut halves", "Indonesia's veined octopus 'stilt walks' to collect coconut shells", "Coconut Fruit Of Lustre In Indian Culture", "How the Zulu coconut was saved from extinction", "Living Heritage Marcellin College Sina and the Eel", "The Fifth Voyage of Sindbad the Seaman The Arabian Nights The Thousand and One Nights Sir Richard Burton translator", Coconut revival new possibilities for the 'tree of life', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coconut&oldid=1136466340, Mean daily temperature above 1213C (5455F) every day of the year, Mean annual rainfall above 1,000mm (39in). Several countries' economies are based on the coconut palm. Fresh husks contain more tannin than old husks. Omissions? See also Can I Rub Coconut Oil On My Gums? [179] In the story of Sina and the Eel, the origin of the coconut is related as the beautiful woman Sina burying an eel, which eventually became the first coconut. (January 27, 1967). Domesticated coconuts also have more amounts of coconut water. The conditions required for coconut trees to grow without any care are: The main limiting factor for most locations which satisfy the rainfall and temperature requirements is canopy growth, except those locations near coastlines, where the sandy soil and salt spray limit the growth of most other trees. [58], The extent of cultivation in the tropics is threatening a number of habitats, such as mangroves; an example of such damage to an ecoregion is in the Petenes mangroves of the Yucatn. Coconut buttons are often used for Hawaiian aloha shirts. Phylogenetic evidence supports the closest relatives of Cocos being either Syagrus or Attalea, both of which are found in South America. It also had ceremonial importance in pre-colonial animistic religions. [92][93][94] Training schools for pig-tailed macaques still exist both in southern Thailand and in the Malaysian state of Kelantan. However, they can be eaten anytime after seven months (1, 2). Coconut flesh is high in fat and can be dried or eaten fresh or processed into coconut milk or coconut oil. [48][49][50][51] The similarities of the local names in the Austronesian region is also cited as evidence that the plant originated in the region. Coconut milk contains 5% to 20% fat, while coconut cream contains around 20% to 50% fat. [184], In March 1521, a description of the coconut was given by Antonio Pigafetta writing in Italian and using the words "cocho"/"cochi", as recorded in his journal after the first European crossing of the Pacific Ocean during the Magellan circumnavigation and meeting the inhabitants of what would become known as Guam and the Philippines. [143], The sap can be reduced by boiling to create a sweet syrup or candy such as te kamamai in Kiribati or dhiyaa hakuru and addu bondi in the Maldives. Climbers employed in coconut plantations often develop musculoskeletal disorders and risk severe injury or death from falling. Over the course of evolutionary time-scales the shifting atolls would have shortened the paths of colonization, meaning that any one coconut would not have to travel very far to find new land. It is cultivated by about 11 million farmers on 12 million hectares; 80% of total production comes from Asia (Adkins et al., 2006). Palm. ", "Coconut anaphylaxis: Case report and review", "Guidance for Industry: A Food Labeling Guide (6. The natural planting, harvesting, and processing of coconuts along with its tropical climate makes for perfect growth conditions of this tropical delicacy. It should stay fresh for four to six months stored at room temperature. 37(9):830-5, 2004. Hawaiians hollowed the trunk to form drums, containers, or small canoes. [73], The coconut palm is damaged by the larvae of many Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species which feed on it, including the African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) and Batrachedra spp. Elzebroek, A.T.G. It supplies food, drink and shelter and also supplies raw material to number of industries intimately connected with domestic as well as economic life. Halved, drained coconuts can also be hung up as bird feeders, and after the flesh has gone, can be filled with fat in winter to attract tits. Freshly shredded mature coconut meat, known as "grated coconut", "shredded coconut", or "coconut flakes", is used in the extraction of coconut milk. It is also used as a natural moisturizer, especially for winter. They are considered a rare delicacy, as harvesting the buds kills the palms. Though Kerala has the largest number of coconut trees, in terms of production per hectare, Tamil Nadu leads all other states. [103] Other states, such as Goa, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, and those in the northeast (Tripura and Assam) account for the remaining productions. This is in line with our tagline, Office : [78] Manually climbing trees is traditional in most countries and requires a specific posture that exerts pressure on the trunk with the feet. Coconut oil is a "functional food" that is popular in traditional medicine in Asia and used worldwide to treat a wide variety of health problems from abscesses to upset stomachs. Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images. The name comes from the old Portuguese word coco, meaning "head" or "skull", after the three indentations on the coconut shell that resemble facial features. The Coconut Research Center describes the nut as rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals with oil comprising mainly medium-chain fatty acids. The Philippines and Indonesia lead in copra production, and throughout the South Pacific copra is one of the most important export products. [66] However, it can also be argued that the placement of the vulnerable eye of the nut (down when floating), and the site of the coir cushion are better positioned to ensure that the water-filled nut does not fracture when dropping on rocky ground, rather than for flotation. It is governed by a single recessive gene (there are studies to this effect) and . What happens when you drink coconut water for 7 days? Furthermore, the exports of coconut products serve as the nation's prime foreign exchange earner. Its development would . Ans : Ripening is characterised by an increase in the breakdown of starch within the fruit, as well as an increase in the number of simple sugars that are sweet in taste such as sucrose, glucose, and fructose as a result of this breakdown. Coconut is the most versatile tree in the world and is known as "the tree of life". Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 59 (7): 995. According to figures published in December 2009 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, it is the world's second largest producer of coconuts, producing 19,500,000 tonnes in 2009. Want this question answered? Both the exocarp and the mesocarp make up the "husk" of the coconut, while the endocarp makes up the hard coconut "shell". These skilled, unpaid laborers can pick hundreds of coconuts daily. On many islands, coconut is a staple in the diet. Mature, ripe coconuts can be used as edible seeds, or processed for oil and plant milk from the flesh, charcoal from the hard shell, and coir from the fibrous husk. What are the health benefits of coconut water? In comparison, mature coconuts with the husk intact can be stored for three to five months at normal room temperature . In the Hainuwele myth from Maluku, a girl emerges from the blossom of a coconut tree. [49][18][61], The niu kafa form is the wild ancestral type, with thick husks to protect the seed, an angular, highly ridged shape to promote buoyancy during ocean dispersal, and a pointed base that allowed fruits to dig into the sand, preventing them from being washed away during germination on a new island. 2017-08-20 10:24:51. Coconut flesh is high in fat and can be dried or eaten fresh or processed into coconut milk orcoconut oil. Coconut flesh is either eaten raw or dried to form copra, the meat of the seed and the source for coconut oil. The researchers concluded that it was brought by early Austronesian sailors to the Americas from at least 2,250 BP, and may be proof of pre-Columbian contact between Austronesian cultures and South American cultures. Linguistic, archaeological, and genetic evidence all point to the early domestication of Pacific coconuts by the Austronesian peoples in maritime Southeast Asia during the Austronesian expansion (c.3000 to 1500BCE). The main coconut-producing area in the Middle East is the Dhofar region of Oman, but they can be grown all along the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea coasts, because these seas are tropical and provide enough humidity (through seawater evaporation) for coconut trees to grow. It noted that by using these small atolls, the species could easily island-hop. [49], Coconuts can be broadly divided into two fruit types the ancestral niu kafa form with a thick-husked, angular fruit, and the niu vai form with a thin-husked, spherical fruit with a higher proportion of endosperm. Its meat fills the entire interior of the coconut shell, rather than just the inner surfaces. Home Fruits What Is The Importance Of Coconut? [138] Coconut oil extracted from coconut milk or copra is also used for frying, cooking, and making margarine, among other uses.[134][139]. "[117] In the coconut industry, coconut meat can be classified loosely into three different types depending on maturity namely "Malauhog", "Malakanin" and "Malakatad". [182] The earliest direct description is given by Cosmas Indicopleustes in his Topographia Christiana written around 545, referred to as "the great nut of India". The traditional coconut farming in these countries is an integral part of their life, culture and identity. What are 10 uses for a coconut? [43], The specific name nucifera is derived from the Latin words nux (nut) and fera (bearing), for 'nut-bearing'. Decayed roots are replaced regularly as the tree grows new ones. Coconut oil and milk are ingredients in cooking, frying, soaps and cosmetics, and foods like margarine and popcorn. Each spike in the spadix bears 2 to 3 female flowers at the base and 200 to 300 male flowers at the top. The shell, freed from the husk, and heated on warm ashes, exudes an oily material that is used to soothe dental pains in traditional medicine of Cambodia. They were commonly carried by Spanish ships as a source of fresh water. Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties, making it beneficial for irritated, chafed skin. All of these introductions are within the last few centuries, relatively recent in comparison to the spread of Pacific coconuts.[49]. How useful is a coconut tree Write 5 sentences? However, Cocos is not thought to be indigenous to South America, and the highest genetic diversity is present in Asian Cocos, indicating that at least the modern species Cocos nucifera is native to there. [98][99][100], Two important coconut products were first developed in the Philippines, macapuno and nata de coco. The ancient coconut groves of Dhofar were mentioned by the medieval Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta in his writings, known as Al Rihla. [4], Coconuts can also be broadly divided into two general types based on habit: the "Tall" (var. The coconut is a versatile and valuable crop, with a range of uses that contribute to both local and global economies. And no coconut can float over the sea faster than a balsa raft moves with the wind behind it. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 59 (7): 995. The Coconut Palm (Cocos Nucifera L.) is referred as The Tree of Life due to its incredible value to man and the incredible number of products and by-products that can be created from it. [108] The artificial landscaping may have been the cause for lethal yellowing, a viral coconut palm disease that leads to the death of the tree. The Coconut tree belongs to the palm family. Samosir (eds.) Coconut Research Center. Furthermore, the antibacterial properties of the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil could also help reduce acne. One of the primary economic contributions of the coconut is as a source of food. Copra is the dried meat of the seed and after processing produces coconut oil and coconut meal. In Johann Vollmann and Istvan Rajcan (Eds.). [7][8][9] Given proper care and growing conditions, coconut palms produce their first fruit in six to ten years, taking 15 to 20 years to reach peak production. coconut, edible fruit of the coconut palm ( Cocos nucifera ), a tree of the palm family (Arecaceae). Its meat is sweetened, cut into strands, and sold in glass jars as coconut strings, sometimes labeled as "coconut sport". The milk or cream obtained by squeezing the granted kernel diluteded in water is sued in many preparations. Why is coconut called the Tree of Life? The Makapuno (phenomenon) coconut is recognized to be due to the absence of two enzymes in the nut that are responsible in the degradation of the galactomannan in the solid endosp As of 2006, the U.S. annually imported 190 million pounds of coconut oil, whose worldwide trade reached $20 million. [158], In World War II, coastwatcher scout Biuku Gasa was the first of two from the Solomon Islands to reach the shipwrecked and wounded crew of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 commanded by future U.S. president John F. Kennedy. [127][128][129] Desiccated coconut are used in confections and desserts such as macaroons. The importance of the coconut in Austronesian cultures is evidenced by shared terminology of even very specific parts and uses of coconuts, which were carried outwards from the Philippines during the Austronesian migrations. This mite infests coconut plantations, and is devastating; it can destroy up to 90% of coconut production. Coconut palms grow in the wet tropical and subtropical coastal Indian and Pacific ocean regions. Sweet coconut sap can be made into drinks or fermented into palm wine or coconut vinegar. In Kerala, India, the main coconut pests are the coconut mite, the rhinoceros beetle, the red palm weevil, and the coconut leaf caterpillar. Economic Role Coconut palms yield roughly 20 percent of the market's oils and fats, Just Change Trust estimates. The shells of the coconut can also be used to create charcoal, which has a variety of industrial and domestic uses. [130], A special cultivar of coconut known as macapuno produces a large amount of jelly-like coconut meat. The stiff midribs of coconut leaves are used for making brooms in India, Indonesia (sapu lidi), Malaysia, the Maldives, and the Philippines (walis tingting). [40], Carl Linnaeus first wanted to name the coconut genus Coccus from latinizing the Portuguese word coco, because he saw works of other botanists in middle of the 17th century use the name as well. [39] Thenga, its Tamil/Malayalam name, was used in the detailed description of coconut found in Itinerario by Ludovico di Varthema published in 1510 and also in the later Hortus Indicus Malabaricus. Palm wine is distilled to produce arrack. Coconut oil is also considered good for hair. They can be sorted mainly into tall cultivars, dwarf cultivars, and hybrid cultivars (hybrids between talls and dwarfs). [153], The husk and shells can be used for fuel and are a source of charcoal. In the Philippines, this alcoholic drink is called lambanog (historically also called vino de coco in Spanish) or "coconut vodka". Besides, the stem is used for construction of houses and leaves are used for thatching, fencing and making baskets and broomsticks. In Australia, a Cocos-like fossil fruit, measuring 10cm 9.5cm (3+78in 3+34in), were recovered from the Chinchilla Sand Formation dated to the latest Pliocene or basal Pleistocene. [79][80][81], To avoid this, coconuts workers in the Philippines and Guam traditionally use bolos tied with a rope to the waist to cut grooves at regular intervals on the coconut trunks. It forms the basis of wedding and worship rituals in Hinduism. Due to the performance of coconut in the economy as the major source of income, it is considered as a predictor of the general economic activity of the country. The dry husk yields coir, a fibre highly resistant to salt water and used in the manufacture of ropes, mats, baskets, brushes, and brooms. (April 2006). [24], The palm produces both the female and male flowers on the same inflorescence; thus, the palm is monoecious. Aids in hydration. Required fields are marked *. For other uses, see, "Grated coconut" redirects here. But research on them is still ongoing to determine which of them (if any) actually belong to the genus Cocos. However, admixture, the transfer of genetic material, evidently occurred between the two populations. The meat can be eaten fresh from the coconut but the meat can also be used to make oil, milk, cream and desiccated coconut. The coconut water strengthens your immune system and removes bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, gum diseases and viruses which are causing cold, infection diseases and typhus. The coconut is also an important economic resource for the production of fiber and other materials. Coconut water can be drunk fresh or used in cooking as in binakol. : B.arenosella, B.atriloqua (feeds exclusively on C.nucifera), B.mathesoni (feeds exclusively on C.nucifera), and B. In 2007, the Philippines imposed a quarantine in Metro Manila and 26 provinces to stop the spread of the pest and protect the Philippine coconut industry managed by some 3.5million farmers.[75]. The production of coconuts plays an important role in the economy, with 25% of cultivated land (around 3.56 million hectares) used for coconut plantations and approximately 25 to 33% of the population reliant on coconuts for their livelihood. 50 % of existing coconut palms have passed their economic bearing age (60 years) and are due for replanting, around 900 million coconut seedlings are required at a value of USD$ 2.7 Billion to secure a sustainable future for the global coconut estate. The coconut was a critical food item for the people of Polynesia, and the Polynesians brought it with them as they spread to new islands.[170]. From this vinegar jaggery and sugar is prepared. This type of root system is known as fibrous or adventitious, and is a characteristic of grass species. The terms are derived from the Samoan language and was adopted into scientific usage by Harries (1978). The coconut populations in the island show genetic admixture between the two subpopulations indicating that Pacific coconuts were brought by the Austronesian settlers that later interbred with the local Indo-Atlantic coconuts. Because coconut milk and oil nourish skin, moisturizing, restorative, vitality to skin, has a radiant effect. [160], Coir (the fiber from the husk of the coconut) is used in ropes, mats, doormats, brushes, and sacks, as caulking for boats, and as stuffing fiber for mattresses. Studies have shown that coconut oil can help in significant reduction in belly fat. "The potential of the Coconut Industry is huge and benefits are available for parties from all sectors. The discovery of this behavior was observed in Bali and North Sulawesi in Indonesia between 1998 and 2008. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. These are grown for recreational purposes or as an income generator. Coconut fruits float readily and have been dispersed widely by ocean currents and by humans throughout the tropics. A hard shell encloses the insignificant embryo with its abundant endosperm, composed of both meat and liquid. Demand grew by 8 percent annually during 1993 to 2004. All rights reserved. Coconut palms yield roughly 20 percent of the market's oils and fats, Just Change Trust estimates. The coconut palm is an important crop in many tropical countries, providing food products and raw materials for industries (Jones, 1991). Gasa suggested, for lack of paper, delivering by dugout canoe a message inscribed on a husked coconut shell, reading Nauru Isl commander / native knows posit / he can pilot / 11 alive need small boat / Kennedy.[159] This coconut was later kept on the president's desk, and is now in the John F. Kennedy Library. Few plants are as versatile as the coconut. Half coconut shells are used in theatre Foley sound effects work, struck together to create the sound effect of a horse's hoofbeats. Dried coconut leaves can be burned to ash, which can be harvested for lime. The immature seeds are infested and desapped by larvae staying in the portion covered by the perianth of the immature seed; the seeds then drop off or survive deformed. In particular, the area around Salalah maintains large coconut plantations similar to those found across the Arabian Sea in Kerala. 2) The Wet Meat or Kernel: The kernel or endospermis an important article of food being used in culinary purpose. Wild coconuts feature an elongated triangular fruit with a thicker husk and a smaller amount of endosperm. Every part of the palm is usable for human needs -- food, shelter and fiber. Yet, its high in calories and saturated fat, so you should eat it in moderation. Coconut oil is moisturizing and has been used for centuries as a hair tonic and skin care product. In addition to the traditional products of copra, coconut oil and copra meal, coconut has the unique advantage of producing a wide variety of food and environment friendly non-food products which are used both domestically and for a global export market. Medium chain fats have also been known to help in weight loss and reduce waist circumference. [13] Like other fruits, it has three layers: the exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. The dried calyx is used as fuel in wood-fired stoves. PETA later clarified that the use of macaques is not practiced in the Philippines, India, Brazil, Colombia, Hawaii, and other major coconut-producing regions. Perianth Tepals 6 arranged in two whorls of three each, persistent and polyphyllous showing valvate aestivation in both the whorls. Whether you are starting your first company or you are a dedicated entrepreneur diving into a new venture, Bizfluent is here to equip you with the tactics, tools and information to establish and run your ventures. The UAE has, however, imposed strict laws on mature coconut tree imports from other countries to reduce the spread of pests to other native palm trees, as the mixing of date and coconut trees poses a risk of cross-species palm pests, such as rhinoceros beetles and red palm weevils. The queen palm was originally classified in the genus Cocos along with the coconut, but was later reclassified in Syagrus. [111], Coconut oil is increasingly used in the food industry. A hard shell encloses the embryo with its abundant endosperm, composed of both meat and liquid. [12], Botanically, the coconut fruit is a drupe, not a true nut. [165], Researchers from the Melbourne Museum in Australia observed the octopus species Amphioctopus marginatus use tools, specifically coconut shells, for defense and shelter. [90], A system of bamboo bridges and ladders directly connecting the tree canopies are also utilized in the Philippines for coconut plantations that harvest coconut sap (not fruits) for coconut vinegar and palm wine production. [118][119], Maturity is difficult to assess on an unopened coconut, and there is no technically proven method for determining maturity.

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