Cocos nucifera
L.
Morphology:
Canopy palm. Stem solitary, erect, 25-40 cm in diameter. Leaves numerous, 3-6 m long; pinnae to 100 on each side, regularly inserted in one plane, straight, the central ones to 1 m long and 5 cm wide. Inflorescences 60-100 m long, once branched, overhung by a large, boat shaped, persistent peduncular bract; the basal part of each inflorescence branch with a few large female flowers, these yellow or greenish, 3-5 cm long; the distal part of the branches with numerous cream coloured male flowers, these 5-8 mm long. Fruits rounded to triangular, green or yellow, 20-30 cm long.
Distribution:
Planted in lowland areas, particularly along the coast. Found in all provinces that contain areas below 1000 m elevation.
Common
names:
Coco
–
Spanish
(Balslev & Barfod 1987).
Cocotero
–
Spanish
(Balslev & Barfod 1987).
Uses:
Kvist & Holm-Nielsen (1987) and Balslev et al. (1988) list the following minor uses: A decoction made from immature, possibly aborted, fruits is used as a sterilizing remedy and drunk twice during menstruation to stop the periods; the coconut husk is sold as a remedy against intestinal parasites and some kidney diseases
(Borchsenius et al. 1998).
One of the most important palms in the Neotropics, both on domestic and commercial level, producing vegetable oil, fibres, and sugar containing sap that can be fermented into an alcoholic drink
(Henderson et al. 1995).
The main product in Ecuador is its fruit, which is sold on every market place for its liquid endosperm which is drunk or, when mature, its hard endosperm (copra) which is eaten raw or used for flavour in ice cream and other food products
(Borchsenius et al. 1998).
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