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cccocotier, coconut palm, palma de coco

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

Phenology Flowering throughout the year.
Habitat Coastal dune vegetation in sandy soils
Elevation ca. 0–10 m (ca. 0–0 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
FL; pantropical native; Pacific Islands (Melanesia) [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
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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