Cocos nucifera |
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cccocotier, coconut palm, palma de coco |
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Stems | erect or leaning, smooth. |
Leaves | segments inserted on rachis in 2 ranks; bract persistent, peduncular, to 1 m, woody. |
Staminate flowers | creamy yellow, 11–13 mm. |
Fruits | green, yellow, or bronzy red when immature, brown when mature; mesocarp dry, fibrous; endocarp brown, bearing 3 germination pores. |
2n | = 32. |
Cocos nucifera |
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Phenology | Flowering throughout the year. |
Habitat | Coastal dune vegetation in sandy soils |
Elevation | ca. 0–10 m (ca. 0–0 ft) |
Distribution |
FL; pantropical native; Pacific Islands (Melanesia) [Introduced in North America]
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Discussion | This is the coconut of commerce, although it is cultivated in the U.S. solely for its ornamental value. Although not native, the coconut persists long after cultivation and is essentially naturalized in coastal southern Florida. Lethal yellowing disease eliminated a large number of susceptible coconuts from the landscape. Presently, most cultivated individuals are resistant cultivars. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 22, p. 120. |
Parent taxa | Arecaceae > subfam. Arecoideae > tribe Cocoeae > subtribe Butiinae > Cocos |
Name authority | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 1188. (1753) |
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