Cocos nucifera

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 2: 1188. 1753.

Common names: Coconut palm cCcocotier
IntroducedIllustrated
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 22. Treatment on page 120.
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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.


Phenology: Flowering throughout the year.
Habitat: Coastal dune vegetation in sandy soils
Elevation: ca. 0–10 m

Distribution

V22 630-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Fla., pantropical. native, Pacific Islands (Melanesia).

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.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Cocos nucifera"
Scott Zona +
Linnaeus +
Coconut palm +  and cCcocotier +
Fla. +, pantropical. native +  and Pacific Islands (Melanesia). +
ca. 0–10 m +
Coastal dune vegetation in sandy soils +
Flowering throughout the year. +
Introduced +  and Illustrated +
Palmae +
Cocos nucifera +
species +