Coconut plant at home. Coconut palm at home: real or not? Coconut palm leaves

Syn: coconut.

The coconut palm is one of the most widespread and valuable tropical trees for humans. In the tropics, the coconut palm is not only a source of food, but also a means of livelihood for numerous farmers. The coconut palm is one of the ten most important trees in the world.

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Flower formula

Coconut palm flower formula: *♂ H3L3T3+3; *♀ CH3L3P(3).

In medicine

Coconut oil, obtained from palm fruits, in official medicine used in the manufacture of medicinal ointments and suppositories. A coconut milk The plant is used in folk medicine in the countries where the plant grows to treat severe vomiting to prevent dehydration. Also in traditional medicine, coconut milk is used as a diuretic and antiseptic.

Coconut oil has long been used in Ayurveda (the traditional system of Indian medicine).

Contraindications and side effects

It is better not to consume the fruits of the coconut palm for people with a tendency to excess weight and diarrhea. Coconuts are also contraindicated for hyperthyroidism.

There are almost no contraindications for the use of coconut oil, however, if you have an individual intolerance, you may experience allergic reactions or food poisoning. It is recommended to use coconut during pregnancy, breastfeeding and childhood strictly after consultation with a specialist.

In cooking

Used for culinary purposes inner part coconut palm fruits, as well as coconut milk. Coconut milk is a pleasant-tasting and thirst-quenching clear liquid found inside an unripe coconut. The contents of the ripe nut are called copru. Copra is white or cream in color and is soft, sweet and oily.

In Indonesia, India, and the Caribbean, unripe coconuts are served whole, but with the top cut off. Coconut milk is drunk through a straw, and the tasty white pulp is scraped out with a special long-handled spoon.

Dried and ground coconut meat is highly valued in the food industry and is used primarily to obtain coconut oil. Coconut oil is colorless, has a pleasant smell and taste, does not smoke when burned and is widely used in cooking and in the confectionery industry.

Partially defatted and ground coconut copra is used as a flavoring in baby food.

Juice containing about 14.6% sugar is extracted from palm inflorescences, from which crystalline raw palm sugar, brown in color, is prepared by evaporation. After fermenting the juice of the inflorescences, wine is obtained, and after distillation, the alcoholic drink “arrack” is obtained.

Coconut oil is used as a sweetener in coffee, and can also be used as a substitute. sunflower oil when frying foods. It has a high smoke point, so during frying it releases much less harmful substances.

Palm oil can be used in salad dressings and on toast, and can be used in baked goods, including pies, cookies or baked goods that contain large amounts of vegetable fats. You can also grease pastry molds with coconut oil before baking to prevent the dish from sticking to the walls.

Dried and crushed coconut pulp is sprinkled on confectionery products, it is added to cereals, desserts, milk soups, ice cream, tropical cocktails, and candies. Coconut milk is a valuable food for vegetarians and vegans, and coconut water is popular among those looking to lose weight. Many Asian dishes, various drinks, cocktails, desserts and semi-finished products are prepared using coconut milk, coconut cream and coconut water.

In cosmetology

Coconut oil is actively used in cosmetology as a nourishing and rejuvenating agent for the skin. Since the time of Queen Cleopatra, its beneficial properties have been known.

The use of coconut oil helps maintain the health and beauty of any skin type, but it helps especially well with dry, flaky, rough and aging facial skin.

The oil has excellent nourishing, softening and moisturizing properties and, after application, forms a kind of protective film on the skin, which maintains its optimal moisture balance for a long time.

In addition, coconut oil not only smoothes the skin and shallow wrinkles, but also increases the overall tone, firmness and elasticity of the skin. Experts recommend coconut oil when caring for sensitive, inflamed and irritated skin.

Coconut oil is also good as protective agent from the sun and as a moisturizer after sunbathing.

You can use pure coconut oil both instead of a nourishing night cream and as a protective face cream when severe frost and the wind.

Coconut oil can be rubbed into the skin around the nails, this will relieve the skin from dryness and peeling cuticles. Coconut oil is also used instead of hygienic lipstick and lip balms.

You can also use coconut oil for hair care: it can perfectly replace store-bought conditioner or hair balm. A hair mask made from heated coconut oil will help strengthen and add shine to your hair. Massaging your scalp with coconut oil will help get rid of dandruff and prevent it from recurring.

Coconut oil can be used to remove makeup and waterproof mascara from eyelashes. If you apply a little oil to your eyelashes before going to bed, it will strengthen them. Coconut oil can also be used as a shaving cream, as it improves the glide of the blades and moisturizes the skin.

Coconut oil is used in aromatherapy. A light massage of the scalp and temples with your fingertips lubricated with coconut oil relieves stress and is very relaxing.

Coconut oil also has pronounced foaming and cleansing properties, which allows it to be used in soap making.

In other areas

In everyday life

Coconut oil is an excellent skin care product. kitchen utensils(cutting boards, spoons, spatulas) and furniture. It has disinfectant properties and also protects the tree from drying out. Coconut oil restores shine to tarnished metal objects and helps remove surface rust, adds shine to leather items, and removes chewing gum residue or stains from any surface, even carpets and hair.

Instead of chemical liquids and tablets for lighting a barbecue, you can use cotton balls pre-moistened with coconut oil.

In crop production

The coconut palm is a huge tree and is therefore recommended for growing in spacious conservatory gardens. For good growth The coconut tree needs warm air temperatures throughout the year, but especially in winter. In summer, the plant requires abundant watering, but without excessive soil moisture. From October, watering should be gradually reduced. Palm trees are replanted every two years. When replanting, pay attention to the position of the nut; it should partially protrude above the soil level.

You can also grow a coconut tree from a nut yourself; there are several ways to do this. The most the best option is the purchase of a ready-made palm tree seedling. After purchase, you should transplant the sprout into special soil. Then you need to place the transplanted seedling in a well-lit place and water it regularly.

Another way is to grow palm trees directly from the fruit of the coconut tree. Remove the outer layer of the nut. Scald the cut fruit with hot water, and then fill the nut halfway warm water and place in a warm place. After about two months, the coconut will begin to sprout. After the sprout appears, you can carefully transplant the coconut into the ground. An important note: when transplanting, only the lower half of the nut should be in the ground.

In other areas

Almost all parts of the coconut tree are used by humans. The hard shells of coconut palm nuts are used to make dishes, crafts, jewelry, souvenirs, musical instruments, and valuable charcoal is also obtained from it. The fibrous shell of the nut shell (coir) after soaking turns into hard fiber for mattresses, brushes, and ropes.

Coconut tree trunks are used to build houses, make furniture, boat hulls and masts, and the leaves are used as roofing material. Ropes, mats, brushes, and brooms are made from hardwood fibers.

In tropical countries, coconut oil is being experimentally used as an alternative fuel for vehicles. Copra cake is fed to dairy cattle in the tropics.

An interesting experiment was carried out many times by scientists in the Hawaiian Islands. An open coconut nut was exposed to the sun, then electrodes were attached to it, so it turned into a battery capable of supplying energy to an ordinary transistor receiver for a month. It turns out that in sunlight and warmth, rapid development begins in the nut pulp. special type bacteria – Aeromonas formicas. They form formic acid ( component the so-called biochemical heat cell), which is the basis of the electrolyte for charging transistor batteries. The rapid activity of microorganisms leads to the decomposition of organic substances, turning the nut into a miniature thermal power plant.

Classification

The coconut palm (lat. Cocos nucifera L.) belongs to the genus Coconut (lat. Cocos L.), of the Palm family (lat. Palmae L.).

Botanical description

The coconut palm is a tall, fast-growing tree, reaching a height of up to 30 meters and a diameter of 50-60 cm. The roots are adventitious and horizontal. The trunk is slender, unbranched, curved, with ring-shaped scars from fallen leaf sheaths. At the end of the tapering trunk there is a crown of 20-30 feathery leaves up to 6.5 m long and about 1 m wide, with large sheaths. The plant is monoecious, dioecious, pollinated by insects. The inflorescence is a panicle up to 2 m long. Around each inflorescence is a woody covering leaf that opens when flowering. Flowers of different sexes are collected in one inflorescence: pistillate flowers are at the bottom of the inflorescence, staminate flowers are at the top. The perianth is imbricate, yellowish in color. Male inflorescences bloom earlier. After the male flowers finish flowering, the female flowers bloom to avoid self-pollination. Therefore, female coconut palm flowers are pollinated only by pollen from other plants.

The fruit is a coconut, a fibrous drupe consisting of an outer fibrous mass, a hard shell and an endosperm-seed. The endosperm is initially liquid, transparent, sweet and sour, and very pleasant to the taste. One nut can contain up to 0.5 liters of this refreshing liquid. Gradually, droplets of fatty oil appear in it, and a white emulsion is formed - coconut milk. It has an even more pleasant taste, but it no longer quenches thirst. Gradually, the endosperm hardens, turning into white pulp, the consistency of cooked chicken protein.

Spreading

The coconut palm is (presumably) native to Southeast Asia. In the wild and in cultivation, the coconut palm is distributed in the tropical zones of both hemispheres of the Earth. Today, the largest coconut palm plantations are located in Malaysia, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Coconut also grows in Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Tanzania, China, Jamaica, Brazil, Nigeria, Vietnam, etc.

Procurement of raw materials

Palm fruits intended for consumption in fresh, collected 7 months after the plant begins to flower.

At a temperature of 0-1.5 ° C, nuts can be stored for up to 2 months, in room conditions- up to 2 weeks.

The fruits for the production of copra and coconut fiber are harvested at full ripeness, approximately 11 months after flowering.

The thick fibrous shell of ripe coconuts is peeled off and then the shell is split in two with a blow of a knife. The nut halves are slightly dried and the pulp is scraped out.

To make coconut oil, the hardened coconut meat is first separated from its hard shell, then the shelled copra is dried and ground. After this, coconut oil with a characteristic delicate, sweetish aroma is obtained from coconut raw materials by pressing.

The most commonly used method is hot pressing, in which at least 300 g of vegetable oil is obtained from 1 kilogram of copra. The more gentle cold-pressing technology, which makes it possible to obtain oil with the highest nutritional and biological value, is more expensive due to the low yield of the finished product.

Coconut oil can be unrefined (unrefined) or refined (deodorized, purified by high pressure). Refined coconut oil differs from unrefined coconut oil in color and transparency. Also, refined coconut oil practically does not have a characteristic pleasant tropical aroma.

Chemical composition

The edible part of the coconut contains from 48.2 to 51.7% dry matter; 26-55% sugars, mainly glucose and fructose; 3.2-3.6% proteins; 27.2-39.0% fat; 3.0-6.6% fiber. Ash elements are 0.8-1.0%, they are represented by phosphorus (83-116 mg/100 g), calcium (13-23 mg/100 g), iron (1.7-2.5 mg/100 g), potassium (256-555 mg/100 g), sodium (7-23 mg/100 g). The vitamin complex of fruits consists of vitamins B1 (0.03-0.05 mg/100 g), B2 (0.02-0.04 mg/100 g), B5 (0.5-0.8 mg/100 g) and vitamin C (up to 6 mg/100 g). Also contains vitamin K and PP. Coconut is rich in nonessential and essential amino acids, phytosterols, Omega-6 fatty acids, saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Pharmacological properties

The beneficial properties of coconut oil are due to its chemical composition. Lauric acid contained in coconut oil increases the level of “good” cholesterol, positively affecting the heart and blood vessels. Coconut oil improves metabolism due to the presence of saturated fats, which are easily digested and used by the liver for energy, and also stimulate the burning of its own fat. Also, saturated acids improve the absorption of calcium and magnesium.

Use in folk medicine

Coconuts were used by local residents to treat poisoning and against cholera. In the Philippines, drops are prepared from the pulp of coconut nuts, which are used for ear pain in children.

In folk medicine, coconut milk is used externally for venereal diseases. A composition is prepared from the ash of coconut shells and wine to treat ulcers and skin inflammations.

Using the antimicrobial properties of coconut oil, traditional healers prevent dirt and bacteria from entering small cuts and scrapes on the body by applying a little oil to them. Coconut oil also reduces itching from mosquito bites.

Coconut oil whitens teeth, improves skin condition, removes toxins and kills germs; these properties are used in the practice of Ayurveda, including for oral hygiene. Also, for a sore throat or cough, traditional healers recommend taking a little coconut oil in its pure form or adding it to tea.

Historical background

The description of a coconut palm was first found in the book of the famous Italian traveler Marco Polo (1254-1324). The name of this palm, coconut, comes from the Portuguese word “coco” (monkey). The nuts seemed to the sailors from Vasco's expedition to Gama to look like monkey faces.

The coconut palm has long been grown on ocean coasts, coral islands and atolls in almost all tropical areas of the world. For a long time it was believed that the palm spreads using the buoyant properties of coconuts, which are carried by sea currents, storms and hurricanes. However, Thor Heyerdahl refuted this version during his expeditions. He proved that coconuts quickly lose their viability in sea water. Therefore, the main distributor of coconut palms is humans.

The coconut palm is a tree that provides the natives with a lot: food, drinks, material for textiles, building materials, and fuel. Therefore, Catholic missionaries in the 19th century called the coconut palm the “tree of lazy people,” because according to the Bible, a person had to work “by the sweat of his brow.” Fearing the harmful impact of the “paradise” lifestyle on the morality of the aborigines of the southern islands, the missionaries forced them to cut down these trees.

Literature

1. Coconut palm / Morshchikhina S. S. // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: [in 30 volumes] / ch. ed. A. M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.

Botanical name: Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Coconut genus, Palm family. He is the only representative of his kind.

Homeland of the coconut tree: Malaysia.

Lighting: photophilous.

Soil: sandy, drained.

Watering: moderate.

Maximum tree height: 30 m.

Average life expectancy: 100 years.

Landing: seeds.

Description of the coconut palm plant and its photo

The coconut palm is one of the most common plants on the planet. In tropical conditions it reaches up to 30 m in height. At home it grows up to 6 m. The trunk is straight, smooth, about 50 cm in diameter at the base, slightly inclined, covered with ring-shaped scars left over from fallen leaf sheaths. The crown is formed on the upper part of the trunk, consists of 15 - 30 pinnately dissected dense leaves 4-6 m long. There are no lateral branches. Inflorescences are complex panicles 1-2 m long. They develop in the axils of the leaves in the 5-7th year of the growing season. Each inflorescence is surrounded by a woody sheath that opens during flowering. The flowers are yellowish, heterosexual.

The fruits are large, oval or spherical drupes (coconuts), 15-30 cm long, weighing up to 2.5 kg. The fruit shell consists of a thin, dense outer shell, permeated with fibers and an inner hard shell with three pores leading to 3 ovules, of which one develops, and the other two are reduced.

The seed consists of a fleshy surface layer about 1.5 mm thick, inside it contains a white liquid - coconut water, which is an immature endosperm. The endosperm is initially liquid and transparent, but with the appearance of drops of oil in it, it turns into an emulsion - coconut milk, after which it thickens and hardens.

The fruits grow in groups of 15-20 pieces. The fruits ripen throughout the year and at different times, this is due to the fact that individual inflorescences do not open at the same time. Most bountiful harvests received from May to July. The second harvest is harvested from November to January. The rest of the time, minor fruit picking is carried out.

Fruiting of a tree in cultivation occurs at the age of 8-10 years. Bears fruit and gives good harvests up to 50 years old. One coconut palm produces 50-150 nuts per year.

The nuts are collected when fully ripe or a month before ripening.

Another photo of a coconut tree is shown below:

Where does the coconut tree grow?

Malaysia is considered to be the birthplace of the coconut palm plant. Today it grows wild and is cultivated in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Africa, South America, Brazil, India and the Antilles. The countries where the coconut palm grows have a hot tropical climate.

The wide distribution of this crop is facilitated by the structure of the fruit, which, thanks to the lightness and waterproofness of the shell, can float on waves, covering long distances, while maintaining its viability.

This plant is often found along sea coasts and on plains, settling mainly on sandy soils.

Uses of coconut fruits and seeds

In the tropics, the coconut palm is called the “tree of life” because residents of the countries where this crop is grown use all its parts.

Coconut is of great value. The largest specimens are used in production palm oil, and are also used fresh for food. Cool drinks are made from dwarf fruits. Medium-sized fruits are used dried. Coconuts are also used in cooking in the preparation of various dishes.

The pulp of the fruit is very high in calories, so it helps to quickly satisfy hunger. 100 g of fresh pulp contains 352 kcal. It has been proven that even the smell of coconut can satisfy hunger.

Coconut oil is obtained by pressing. It has white, pleasant taste and aroma. The oil hardens at a temperature of 23-25°C. The consistency becomes slightly softer than butter. Coconut oil is widely used in cosmetology, medicine, food industry, and soap production. Soap containing this component lathers even in salt water. Cosmetics with coconut oil have a beneficial effect on the skin and hair, tone, nourish, heal damage, and moisturize.

The local population uses the hard nut shell as utensils. Buttons are made from it in factories. Carpeting is made from the fibrous part of the fruit. The wood is used to make furniture, boats, beams, fences and much more.

Coconut palm leaves

Coconut palm leaves are used as weaving material. They are used to make ropes, hats, baskets, brushes, brooms; in addition, in tropical countries, coconut palm leaves are used as roofing material.

This plant is used in the production of sugar, syrups, and wine drinks. To do this, young inflorescences are cut before they bloom, after which the juice flows out drop by drop. The extracted juice is evaporated and crystallized sugar is obtained.

The easiest to open are the unripe green fruits of the coconut palm. They contain a large amount of liquid, but little white pulp. It is cut at the place where the nut is attached to the tree or split on a stone.

It is more difficult to crack a mature coconut because its shell is very dense and hard.

To do this, place the nut in an oven preheated to 180 °C and hold for 5-7 minutes. When exposed to high temperatures, the shell will begin to crack. You can split cracked coconut using a knife or hammer.

There is another way to open a coconut. Find 3 round holes on the top of the nut, then insert a corkscrew into the softest one. After this, screw the corkscrew 3-4 cm deep into the coconut and remove it. Turn the coconut upside down and place it in a container where the juice will flow out. When the juice has completely flowed out, tap the nut with short strokes with a kitchen hammer. When the coconut breaks open, you will need to remove the shell from the flesh. Sometimes she moves away immediately, in some cases she sits closely. If the shell does not come off, insert a spoon between it and the pulp and press well, separating the shell.

When choosing a palm nut in a store, you should pay attention to its shell. It should be even, smooth, dry, without cracks, mold or streaks. It is recommended to shake the fruit. In a good coconut, you can hear the ringing splash of the liquid contained inside. In low-quality fruit, the splash of liquid will be dull. ABOUT poor quality the product will say it's untidy appearance and the presence of three soft depressions.

The smell of coconut milk should be pleasant and the taste should be sweet. A repulsive odor and sour taste are signs of a spoiled nut.

Store palm nuts in the refrigerator. The shelf life of an opened coconut is 1-2 days.

Coconut water is a thick, translucent, sweetish liquid. It is very nutritious, can quench hunger and thirst, and restores the body's water balance. It contains vitamins, minerals and trace elements necessary for the human body.

Used as a natural refreshing drink, consumed directly from the coconut. It is safe and hypoallergenic, so it can be consumed in large quantities. It is a rich source of vitamins during pregnancy and lactation.

When exposed to air, coconut water loses a large amount of valuable substances, so it should be drunk immediately after opening.

How does a coconut tree reproduce?

For gardeners who want to grow this at home exotic plant you need to know how the coconut tree reproduces. This individual is propagated using seeds (nuts). Mature, undamaged coconuts of species such as nut-bearing or Weddel coconut are suitable for planting. Coconut palm seeds (nuts) are immersed 1/3 in a container with soil mixture so that its holes are on the side. It is from these holes that the sprout will come. Shoots will appear in 4-5 months. The leaves will first develop from the nut. As the tree matures, the lower leaves die off and new ones appear at the top of the main stem, so over time a trunk will form.

The soil mixture is prepared in advance. It should consist of a clay substrate (2 parts), peat (1 part), sand (1 part), vermiculite (2 tablespoons). To prevent stagnation of water, drainage is made at the bottom of the pot.

How to grow an indoor coconut tree at home?

The coconut palm tree can be grown at home as an ornamental crop. It is recommended to grow this plant in greenhouses or spacious winter gardens, due to the fact that the room is small for it.

How to grow a coconut palm at home and get a well-developed, strong, attractive plant? Since coconut is a heat- and light-loving crop, the pot with the plant is placed in a sunny place. In winter, artificial lighting is provided. The optimal air temperature for its growth is 18-23°C. It should be noted that the palm tree is thermophilic, but does not tolerate extreme heat. It is also necessary to monitor the humidity level in the room. It should be 80-90%, so in hot weather and in winter, when they turn on heating devices, it is important to take care of creating optimal humidity in the room. To do this, spray the tree daily or place it on a tray with wet pebbles. From May to September, watering is carried out 2 times a week. The rest of the time, it is enough to water once a week. In winter, it is enough to moisten the earthen ball and make sure that the soil does not dry out.

How to care for a coconut palm at home?

How to care for a coconut tree? Knowing the answer to this question when growing this whimsical tropical crop is very important, because proper care depends on the development of the plant.

When caring for a coconut palm in spring and summer, fertilize with universal fertilizer or complex fertilizer for palm trees. The fertilizer is dissolved in water, which is then watered over the plant.

A coconut palm at home needs periodic replanting. The best time This is what spring is for. Young individuals are transplanted annually, adults once every 2-3 years. A grown tree needs to be replanted when the roots no longer fit in the pot. The new container should be slightly larger and taller than the previous one, since root system The tree develops quite quickly.

Transplantation is carried out very carefully so as not to damage the roots. Rotten and damaged roots are cut off and the cut area is sprinkled with crushed charcoal. The soil should be slightly moist, but not waterlogged. Watering should not be carried out before transplanting. When transplanting, add 10 g

Coconut tree unique plant, which is the only representative of the Coconut genus belonging to the Palm family. There are only intraspecific varieties, and their classification is based on the size of the plant.

This is how tall palm trees are distinguished; they are widely used for home and commercial cultivation, and their height reaches 25-30 meters. These coconut trees grow slowly at maturity and begin to bear fruit 6-10 years after planting. Moreover, over the next 60 years, and sometimes longer, the palm tree will produce dozens of nuts annually. Cross-pollination is inherent in such varieties, so several specimens are planted at once.

Dwarf coconut palms grow up to 10 meters in height and begin to bear fruit from the third year, reaching a meter in length. They do not live as long as their tall counterparts, up to 30-40 years. As a rule, these plants are self-pollinating and do not require close proximity to bear fruit.

Coconut palms do not have taproots, but they acquire many primary fibrous roots, which together resemble a huge broom. The roots grow from a thickening at the bottom of the trunk. The outer ones spread widely in the horizontal plane, the inner roots go deep down, up to 10 meters.

This arrangement of the root system allows coconuts to grow successfully on sandy coasts, subject to the constant influence of ocean tides. Although this is not enough, and one can often observe bizarrely curved trunks of palm trees with the root system washed out of the soil.

The trunk of a coconut palm has no branches and grows from a single apical bud, called the heart of the coconut, which is the tightly folded primordia of future leaves of the plant. The base of the trunk at maturity reaches 0.8 meters in diameter. Throughout the rest of the length of the palm tree, the thickness of the trunk is constant, and is about 0.4 meters in girth.

Stem growth is quite intensive in the early stages and can reach up to 1.5 meters per year. But as the plant matures, it slows down and gains only 10-15 cm per year. The trunk of a coconut palm does not have a cambium, and therefore is not able to restore damaged tissue, and the loss of a single bud causes the death of the plant. However, mature coconuts grow up to 18,000 vascular bundles in their trunks, which help the palms withstand significant physical damage.

The first leaves of a coconut tree emerging from a sprouted nut look like feathers joined together. After the first 8-10 leaves, true leaves develop, with separated transverse stripes. Typically, a normal mature palm produces 12-16 new leaves per year, each of which bears an inflorescence.

At the same time, 30-40 leaves grow on a coconut, with the same number of leaf primordia. From the appearance of the leaf primordium to its full development, about 30 months pass. A mature coconut palm leaf grows up to 3-4 meters in length and has 200-250 stripes. The leaf remains in the crown for about three years and then falls off, leaving a scar on the trunk.

The age of a mature palm is directly related to the number of scars from fallen leaves. The number of scars divided by 13 gives the approximate age of the plant in years.

How coconut palms bloom and bear fruit.

The coconut inflorescence is enclosed in a bivalve shell and resembles an ear, each of which is located in the axil of the leaf. Palm trees are monoecious, meaning their inflorescences bear both male and female flowers. Moreover, men are more numerous. Female flowers are located at the base of the spikelets, male flowers at the terminal part.

The inflorescence primordium is detected 4 months after the leaf is separated. Flowers stand out and grow after another 22 months. And only a year after this, the inflorescence shell opens. The male flowers bloom first in the spikelets, which is accompanied by the release of pollen. The whole process lasts only one day on each inflorescence, and then the flowers fall off. In total, the male flowering phase of a coconut palm lasts about 20 days, depending on the variety and conditions.

A few days later, the female flowering phase begins, lasting up to 3-8 days. Every female flower remains susceptible to pollen for 1-3 days. A normal coconut inflorescence contains 10-50 such flowers. As a rule, 50-70% of them remain unpollinated and fall off, which is especially typical in dry weather. The remaining flowers develop into fruits, which will take about 12 more months to ripen, or up to 8 months for low-growing palms.

The duration of the male and female phases depends on climatic conditions and usually do not overlap in tall varieties of coconut palms. Therefore, self-pollination occurs very rarely. In some dwarf coconuts, such as the Malayan dwarf, the phases overlap, promoting self-pollination.

Coconut fruits are fibrous drupes. Young fruits have a smooth outer surface with a color ranging from green to red-brown. Ripe coconuts have a fibrous surface, which is the raw material for the production of coconut fiber. Under the coconut fiber grows a hard, waterproof shell that protects the kernel of the fruit and, thanks to which, coconut fruits can travel vast distances across the surface of the ocean.

The inside of the hard shell is covered with 12 mm of white pulp - copra. There is liquid in the center of the coconut, coconut water is watery and clear when unripe. Over time, the water becomes cloudy and thick, and its quantity decreases - this is coconut milk. Coconut fruits have a lot of useful qualities that allow them to be widely used as food, as well as for other household purposes.

Tell your friends about it.

Coconut palm - in Sanskrit means “the tree that provides everything you need in life.” In fact, the benefits of the coconut tree are all-encompassing.

The leaves of this palm, very hard and durable (resistant to tearing under the influence of winds), are used to cover the roofs of local houses, make various items household items - baskets, hammocks, brushes. Leaf petioles are used in construction as the skeleton of the roof. And the wooden trunk of a palm tree is used as a construction raw material for the production of house walls. Coconut shells are used to make pots, a variety of utensils and decorations made by local artists. Palm fruits are widely used in cooking, cosmetology, and medicine.

Where does the coconut tree grow and what does it look like?

Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is a powerful tree, lives more than 100 years, with a straight trunk, up to 30 m high, crowned with thirty to forty large (4-5 m) feathery leaves. Unisexual flowers collected in separate short inflorescences emerging from the axils of the leaves, and since the inflorescences grow from the corner of each new developing leaf, approximately in a monthly rhythm, practically all year round can be collected from the tree, sequentially ripening fruits. Almost a year passes from fertilization of the flower to the full ripening of the fruit., which also allows you to collect nuts at different stages of maturity.

The origin of the coconut palm is not fully understood, but most likely it comes from either the islands of Polynesia and Indonesia, or from East Africa. Already in very early historical eras, about 4000 years ago, the cultivation of this palm spread to many countries outside the original zone. It is said that sea currents carried coconuts throughout the Indian and Pacific Ocean. This theory is not reliable, but has many supporters, since it is a fact that the fruits of the coconut palm can drift up to 4,500 km across the sea while remaining viable. Currently, the coconut palm is widely distributed in both cultivated and wild forms in the tropical zones of both hemispheres. It loves the warm sea climate and often grows even on salty coastal sands.

How coconuts are harvested (video)

Fruit

The fruit of the coconut palm, from a botanical point of view, is a drupe, but since its design resembles walnut, then received the name coconut (often called simply coconut). A mature coconut weighs 2 to 4 kg, is 20 to 35 cm long and 15 to 20 cm in diameter. The outer soft shell of the coconut is 5 to 10 cm thick and consists of closely interwoven fibers called coir. They are lightweight and abrasion-resistant, and their length ranges from 15 to 30 cm.

The coir of young nuts is tender and soft. A favorite treat for children who love to chew and suck it. But, above all, coir is of industrial importance, since the fibers of which it consists are very strong, durable, elastic and do not rot for a very long time under the influence of ordinary and sea ​​water. It is used to make ropes for marine vessels, fabrics, runners and carpets. Arab travelers wrote about coir products in Java already in the 11th century, and Marco Polo two centuries later. Currently, most industrial products made from coir are produced in India.

If you remove mature coir from a coconut, you get a spherical, slightly elongated nut. At one end of the nut there are three holes covered with a thin membrane through which the seed can germinate. Inside it is filled with a 1-2 cm dense and hard layer of the nut kernel. The rest of the inside of the nut is filled with coconut juice, clear or slightly cloudy, reminiscent of diluted milk, which is why it is called coconut milk.

Europeans became interested in palm only in the mid-19th century, when coconut oil began to be used to make soap, and then as a cooking oil, mainly for frying and for the production of margarines.

Useful and healing properties of coconut

Coconuts have a very great value in terms of trade and nutrition, in some areas of the world they represent the staple food of the population. Coconut is a nut whose health effects are valued not only by its lovers, but also by scientists. No wonder - coconut pulp is rich in fiber, contains potassium, magnesium and phosphorus, as well as folic acid. However, the most important ones are the saturated fatty acids contained in coconut pulp.

These are not the saturated fatty acids found in most animal products, called long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), which contribute to increased cholesterol levels and the development of atherosclerosis. The saturated fatty acids found in coconut are medium chain triglycerides.(MCT), which are metabolized completely differently. Due to the fact that their molecules are smaller, their metabolism process is faster. The presence of enzymes that take part in the metabolism of LCT fats, that is, lipase and bile, is not required. MCT acids bypass the fat cells of the gastrointestinal tract, entering directly into the portal vein. Thanks to this, they are not stored as a reserve material, but are a quickly accessible source of energy.

100 g of coconut contains a large amount of lauric acid (15.3 g), as well as 5.06 g of myristic acid. Coconut palm fruits are rich in natural amino acids (data per 100 g):

• isoleucine – 121 mg;
• leucine – 233 mg;
• lysine – 140 mg;
• phenylalanine – 158 mg;
• valine – 186 mg;
• arginine – 513 mg;
• alanine – 158 mg;
• aspartic acid – 308 mg;
• glutamic acid – 708 mg;
• glycine – 149 mg;
• proline – 130 mg;
• serine – 158 mg.

Ripe coconut kernels contain about 50% water, 25-35% fat, 4% protein and 8% sugar. They are very nutritious not only because of their high calorie content, but also because of the exceptional quality of the protein they contain.

How to choose the right coconut

In the store, before purchasing, you should carefully examine the “nuts”. There should be no white spots on the coconut. You should also carefully examine its three holes. Check that they are all rigid and sealed. A soft hole in a coconut does not bode well. The nut is damaged and the water has turned sour (smell and color of spoiled whey). If you shake a coconut, you should hear the sound of water. The more water, the fresher it is.

How to open a coconut (video)

What is the name and benefits of coconut pulp?

The hard endosperm of a coconut, dried in the sun or in an oven, is called copra. Copra contains only 7% water, while 60-70% fat, 14% sugar and 7% protein. It is crushed into flakes, shavings or coconut flour, which are widely used in baking and confectionery.

As you know, a person cannot limit himself to vegetable protein, but he must consume at least a small amount of animal protein every day. So, coconut protein can completely replace animal proteins in the diet, and because of this, coconut is a particularly important raw material for the food industry in a vegetarian diet.

A very valuable product is obtained from copra, used in the food industry and in technology, which, due to its consistency, is called coconut oil. It, at temperatures below 20-26 °C, has a constant consistency, reminiscent of butter, and for more high temperature liquid. good, fresh coconut oil is pure white, has a light taste and a delicate, distinctive smell.

In countries where the coconut palm is grown on a large scale, especially Indonesia, coconut flakes or simply grated fresh coconut kernels are added to all types of dishes, especially rice fried in coconut oil.

How to open a coconut and extract the pulp

Having bought a coconut, of course, you need to open it. To do this following a certain order of actions is quite simple:

1. There are three small holes where the coconut seeds germinate, using a corkscrew or sharp knife you need to punch two of them, then pour the coconut milk into a bowl;
2. To make it easier to open the nut, you can put it in a warm oven for a few minutes. After cooling, place it on a board and hit it with a meat mallet at a distance of one third from the eyes to the opposite end;
3. turning the coconut, continue to strike until the fruit splits;
4. in order to separate the pulp from the shell, you need to insert a knife blade between them and carefully pry it off;
5. coconut is ready!

You can drink the milk straight away or mix it with alcohol or other juices to form a drink. You can also use it to prepare dishes with a tropical aftertaste. For the first time, it is better to drink real coconut juice in small sips, because the real taste of coconut is significantly different from the synthetic ones that many have become accustomed to. The pulp is eaten in strips or dried and ground into shavings. It is used mainly in cooking, as the main accent of a dish or decoration.

Use of coconut in cooking

Coconut oil– can be used instead of butter for bread or for frying dishes in a pan. Due to its low melting point (26 degrees Celsius), it is suitable as a base for sauces.

Coconut water effectively quenches thirst due to its magnesium and calcium content. A coconut drink should be drunk immediately after training to replenish fluids.

Grated coconut- will be a great addition sweet dessert. It can also be added to a healthy fruit and milk shake.

Fresh coconut– satisfies hunger well. Quickly metabolized fats will replenish energy, and fiber will give you a feeling of fullness. 200 g of coconut contains 18 g of fiber, which is two-thirds of your daily requirement.

Coconut milk– can be used to prepare Thai dishes or added to aromatic morning coffee, resulting in a depth of coconut flavor. Coconut milk is also used for smoothies, cakes and creams. The thick part of coconut milk can be whipped into cream for use in desserts.

Coconut sugar– despite the fact that it lacks the taste of coconut, it has a slight caramel note. Diamond as a replacement for regular white sugar as it has a lower glycemic index.

Valuable minerals and an exceptionally valuable type of medium-saturated acids will certainly enrich the daily menu.

Coconut oil in cosmetology

In the cosmetic industry, pure oil is used for body or massage, as a cosmetic additive for very dry and flaky skin. Also used for mature, sun-damaged skin and in preparations for the care of dry and damaged hair.

Hair oil

It acts on the hair and scalp, penetrating deep and delivering beneficial fatty acids, vitamins and minerals: magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron. Restores hair scales, making them elastic. Thanks to this, the hairstyle takes on beautiful view, and the ends stop splitting. The oil also has a good effect on the scalp, preventing the destruction of hair follicles and preventing the formation of dandruff.

Apply the oil to damp hair, then put on a foil cap and wrap your head in a towel. Leave the oil on your hair for at least 2 hours or, for best results, leave it overnight, and then wash your hair thoroughly.

The oil can also be used without rinsing. However, you should be careful with the amount so as not to burden your hair. A drop of oil, rubbed with your fingers and applied to the ends of your hair, is an excellent treatment. Treatment can be applied 2-3 times a week.

Coconut oil for face

A little oil should be warmed between your fingers and applied to slightly damp skin of the face, neck, décolleté and area around the eyes. In case of very dry skin, coconut oil can be used as a makeup remover.

Healing recipes with coconut

• All over the world, coconut is used in the treatment of various diseases: ulcers, asthma, bronchitis, injuries, burns, colds, constipation, kidney stones and many others.
• Coconut oil, due to the construction of its molecules, does not have negative influence on cholesterol levels and helps protect against heart disease, giving it a unique position among fats.
• Reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.
• Acts as a protective antioxidant, protecting the body from free radical damage that causes premature aging and degenerative diseases.

Coconut - the fruit of the coconut palm

Used externally, promotes wound healing, slows down the appearance of spots on the skin, and has a softening effect on skin diseases (for example, eczema). Apply as a serum or mask.

Coconut water

According to many, this liquid can be considered the elixir of eternal youth and health. Coconut water is nothing more than the endosperm of the kernels of not quite ripe, green coconuts, which looks like a clear liquid. Each fruit can contain from 200 ml to a liter of drink.

Extremely rich in essential elements and minerals for life - for example, contains more electrolytes than most sports drinks. Lots of magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. It is also a very rich source of potassium - 100 ml of the drink contains more than two bananas. A real treasure trove of B vitamins. Coconut water contains a lot of vitamin C. Coconut water mixes easily with the blood and is quickly absorbed by the human body.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil contains so-called MCT fats. They are highly digestible, saturated fats that the body digests more easily than other fatty acids. Stimulates metabolism. Coconut oil contains lauric acid. This acid is converted in the human body into monolaurin. This substance has antiviral and antibacterial characteristics. Overcomes, in particular, influenza viruses and hepatitis C viruses without much difficulty. Lauric acid is non-toxic, thanks to this, it is an excellent alternative For medicines, used for viral diseases and bacterial infections.

Coconut flour

Coconut flour is obtained from the hard parts of the nut, which are ground into a fine powder. It contains more protein than wheat flour, rye or corn. Due to its high fiber content and relatively small amount of carbohydrates, it does not cause sudden spikes in blood sugar levels. This makes it ideal for diabetics. Also ideal for people who are gluten intolerant.

According to various studies, including coconut flour in your diet can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol levels. It has a delicate aroma and taste of coconut. Great for sauces and baked goods such as muffins, pancakes and pies.

Useful properties of coconut (video)

Contraindications and harms of coconut

There are no contraindications. An exception can be considered individual intolerance.

There are few plants so comprehensively used by man as the coconut palm. The coconut palm is justifiably of great economic importance, and many of its properties have not been fully studied. This is truly a tree of a thousand uses.

The coconut palm belongs to the Palm family. This is a very tall (up to 30 m) plant with a round crown formed by long (up to 6 m) leaves. The diameter of the trunk reaches almost half a meter.

It blooms with almost two-meter long light yellow panicles, on which drupes are subsequently tied - fruits measuring about 30 cm in length and weighing up to 2.5 kg, which are usually called coconuts. The habitat is the oceanic coasts of the tropics.

Did you know?In the Maldives, the coconut tree is the official state symbol and is also depicted on the coat of arms.

Malaysia is considered the birthplace of this plant, and it is most widespread in Indonesia, which is largest producer coconuts.

Subspecies of coconut

There are several subspecies of coconut. Most often as indoor plants you can find:

Subspecies differ in height: typica (tall) and dwarf - nana.

Preparation

If you decide to grow a coconut from a nut, you will need to do the following:

1. Choose suitable fruit: only ripe, never peeled. Shake it - you should hear a splash of liquid.
2. Soak the coconut for three days in water.
3. Provide conditions close to greenhouse: high humidity and temperature (about +30 °C).

Planting a coconut

Once your nut has sprouted, it's time to plant it in a pot.

The sequence is:

1. Prepare the container. It should be a wide pot with a volume twice the size of the nut. Be sure to make a hole in the bottom - excess water will drain through it (accordingly, a tray is needed).
2. Place a layer of drainage on the bottom (expanded clay or shards will do).
3. Fill with soil mixture. The substrate must be well-drained and loose. The optimal mixture is special soil for indoor plants mixed with sand.
4. Bury the nut halfway into the ground.
5. Maintain the desired temperature, humidity and lighting levels.
6. Apply organic fertilizers and fungicides (once every 4 weeks).
7. As the palm tree grows and develops, transplant it into a larger pot. In this case, the soil around the roots must be preserved; the shells must not be removed.

The coconut palm is not the most difficult plant to care for, but it is not the easiest either. For beginners who have never grown anything more complex than chlorophytum or geranium before, it most likely will not be suitable. Although the plant itself is quite unpretentious.

Important! The coconut palm is very sensitive to dry air and drafts. In an apartment, it should not be placed in the passages and it is not recommended to overdry it.

Lighting

Coconut is light-loving. Shade is contraindicated for him, although partial shade is acceptable. Diffused lighting is best. Direct sunlight can burn a young plant, but with age it becomes resistant to their effects.

Direct sunlight in the middle of the day. To maintain the symmetry of the crown in case of light from only one angle, the plant should be rotated 2 times a month.

Required temperature

Palm trees love warmth. She feels best in the temperature range from +26 to +28 °C. Below +16 °C it stops growing. It will survive short-term drops to zero, but below that, guaranteed death awaits it.

Watering a palm tree

You cannot overwater the plant. The frequency of watering is determined by the condition of the soil and the time of year:

• mid-spring to late summer - do not allow the soil to dry out;
• winter - water when the soil dries out.

Fertilizers

The plant does not require excessive feeding.
You can choose from two options:

1. Once a year, place granular fertilizer in the soil. It slowly releases nutrients. It is better to do this in the spring.
2. Use specialized solutions for palm trees. Frequency - once every 3 weeks. The application period is April-August.

Foliage trimming

You need to cut leaves from a palm tree, but only in two cases:

1. If the leaf is completely dry.
2. If the sheet is broken.

Leaves that have changed color, are turning yellow, or are drying out do not need to be touched; the coconut takes them from them nutrients. Wait until it dries completely, then cut it. You can also trim off the very tips of the leaves if they turn brown, but you don't need to touch the leaf itself.

Transfer

Palm trees are replanted for several reasons. Moreover, each of them has its own characteristics that affect the process.

1. As it grows - when the plant becomes cramped in the pot.

Determined by the following criteria:

• growth arrest;
• stagnation of water on the surface;
• protruding roots.

Young palm trees are replanted once a year in April, large ones - once every 2-3 years. The procedure is standard: the plant, along with a lump of earth on the root system, is transferred into a larger pot (15-20% larger than the previous one).

Important!When transshipping, it is strictly forbidden to bury the plant and damage the trunk, otherwise the palm tree may die.

Video: transplanting a coconut

2. To replace the soil - if the substrate is old and/or deteriorated. Determined by the following criteria:

• white coating on the ground;
• bad smell;
• Water absorption became worse.

In this case, you need to replant into a pot of a similar size (you can use the same one, after washing it first).

3. If the palm tree rots. It looks like this:

• the barrel is easily loosened;
• The soil is constantly wet and emits an unpleasant odor.

In this case, during the replanting process, you should also trim off the rotten roots.

Coconut tree propagation

Coconut reproduces in two ways:

1. From a drupe (walnut). Only one plant germinates. This is the main type of reproduction.
2. By shoots. It occurs rarely, only when a daughter shoot appears in an adult tree.

Pests and diseases of coconut palm

Indoor plants have a lower risk of disease or pest damage than those growing indoors. open ground, but it is there. Below are the most common problems that a palm tree owner may encounter.

Pests

The list of pests that can attack coconut is pretty standard. They are the ones that most often grow on indoor plants.

These include:

All of them are exterminated with special preparations (insecticides). Before purchasing a product, be sure to check whether it is suitable for use in residential premises.

Diseases

There are few diseases in the coconut palm, but they are very serious:

1. Phytoplasma infection. External manifestations - the crown turns yellow from bottom to top. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to cure the plant; you will have to throw it away.
2. Black and pink rot (spore damage). The plant is weakened, shoots, leaves, and sometimes the trunk are rotting. Putrefactive masses of dark brown, black or pink colors are observed (depending on the type of infection). The plant is treated with fungicides: treatment once every 7 days until complete recovery.

As you can see, growing your own coconut tree is a rather labor-intensive task, although very interesting. If you manage to do this, then you can enjoy your own personal paradise in your own home.

Reviews from the network

CARE TIPS Do not use leaf polishing agents Temperature: All types of coconut palm are heat-loving; coconut is kept at a temperature of 20-23°C both outdoors and indoors. It is advisable in the summer to move the tub with coconut to the balcony or garden, to a place where the hottest midday sun rays do not fall on it. If the coconut is kept indoors all year round, then in the summer it needs to be provided with good ventilation. Lighting: Bright diffused light, shaded only from the hottest sun. The room is provided with the brightest place. Watering: In summer (from May to September) water abundantly, then moderately. From May to August, fertilize every two weeks. Air humidity: Coconut loves very humid air, so regular spraying is necessary, especially in summer and winter. heating season. The leaves are periodically wiped with a damp sponge. Transplantation: He really doesn’t like replanting, so it is replanted only when the roots fill the entire pot or tub and begin to crawl out of the container. Soil - 2 parts light clay-turf, 2 parts humus-leaf, 1 part peat, 1 part rotted manure, 1 part sand and a little charcoal. Reproduction: Seeds (walnuts) are possible only with warm temperatures and high air humidity.

https://forum.bestflowers.ru/t/kokosovaja-cocos.835/#post-9496

Very difficult to care for, God forbid if it doesn’t die. In short: coconut needs soil enriched with loose, not rocky humus - fertile soil mixed with coarse sand. In spring, very carefully transfer the plant into the pot large sizes or simply replace the surface layer with solid earth. From May to the end of August (at the hottest time), the plant should be in a well-ventilated, semi-shaded room; the leaves should be sprayed frequently, but not with hard water. In spring and summer, water moderately and add a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month, but in winter you need to water much less often. The temperature is not lower than 15-17 degrees. Wipe the dust off the leaves with a cloth. In indoor conditions, the plant cannot develop properly and therefore does not live for a long time. Well, good luck.

https://forum.bestflowers.ru/t/kokosovaja-cocos.835/#post-4821

Instructions 1 If you want to plant a coconut, the first difficulty you will have to face is acquiring seed material. An ordinary coconut bought in a supermarket is unlikely to germinate. The fact is that for consumption, coconuts are removed from the tree at the stage of milk maturity. A ripe coconut has hard, inedible flesh, and the liquid inside it acquires a not very pleasant smell. It takes about 430 days for the nut to fully ripen. And to send them to the market and eat them, they are removed much earlier. Indeed, already at the age of approximately 150 days, coconuts contain maximum quantity tasty liquid, which, moreover, remains cool inside the nut even in the hottest weather. Somewhat later, fat appears in this liquid, and it turns into the famous coconut milk, comparable in nutritional value to cow's milk. And only after this does the development of hard endosperm begin, which in a mature nut occupies more than half of the internal volume. But this, of course, is not a matter of one day. It is very difficult to determine at what stage of ripeness the fruits lying on the counter are. 2 A way out of the situation could be a coconut brought from the southern latitudes, which managed to ripen and fell to the ground on its own. But even in this case, you shouldn’t delude yourself too much. The coconut palm grows up to 30 meters in natural conditions; it is difficult to imagine a room in which it could fit. In addition, after a couple of years, most coconut palm sprouts cannot withstand home conditions and die. 3 If the above arguments still don’t frighten you, you came across a sprouted coconut in a flower shop and want to try to tame it, or you were brought a ripe coconut from the south, then why not. 4 Immerse the coconut halfway in wet peat with the soft eye facing up, cover with film, create a temperature of about 25°C and start waiting. Ventilate the fruit periodically to prevent mold from appearing. Bottom heating of the pot should speed up the germination of the nut. Place the “greenhouse” in the warmest, brightest place so that as much sun as possible falls on the nut - in spring it begins to get very hot. If possible, provide the nut with additional illumination, when there is no natural light. It will take a long time for a coconut to germinate, up to six months. But after that it will quickly grow. Now - the main thing: if over the next five to six months the condition of the crop does not change, we can say with complete confidence that the nut is not ripe. And throw it away. By the way, this must be done very carefully. If a nut is destroyed in the house, the persistent smell of the spilled liquid will remind you of what happened for another five months. 5 The pot for the coconut plant should be large, at least 12-15 liters. The soil should contain about 40% sand and you will have to constantly maintain high humidity and temperature. Dry air can cause coconut leaf tips to turn brown. Water that is too hard can also cause leaf damage. On the other hand, overwatering is also dangerous for coconuts; the roots of the plant begin to rot. 6 As you can see, growing coconut is not an easy task and the chances of success are not that great. But if you still manage to grow a palm tree from a coconut, you can confidently be considered a professional among plant growers.