Coconut Trees & Palm Trees

Coconut Palm

• A member of the Arecaceae family, the coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is a type of palm tree and is referred to as a coconut palm. Its exact origin is unknown, but the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences indicates the coconut may have evolved from the South Pacific or the Malay archipelago. The nut of the tree has been widely distributed via ocean currents and man and easily germinates when it reaches land.

Coconut Uses

• Typically found along sandy shorelines, the coconut palm is the most widely grown and used nut across the globe. An important commercial crop that contributes vastly to the economy of many tropical countries, among its most valued products is copra, an oil used in cosmetics, shampoos, soap and cooking oils. The coconut fruit is also widely consumed as a food, with the milk and water of the fruit used in beverages and other products.

Coconut Features

• Topped with a crown of leaves, the trunk of the coconut palm possesses a brownish-gray color. The tree may eventually grow to a height of 80 to 100 feet, with either an erect or curved stature. The elaborate, well-recognized foliage of the tree may grow to 18 feet long and 4 feet wide. The coconut palm may take up to 10 years to begin fruiting, with full production requiring 15 to 20 years. It will continue to offer fruit for as long as 80 years.

Palm Family

• As many as 2,500 species of palm tree -- including the coconut palm -- exist. The majority of those grown for ornamental and economic purposes are single-stemmed. Throughout the palm family overall, maturity may require as little as three years or as many as 40 before flower and fruit production commences. A number of plants, including the sago palm, are commonly referred to as "palms" yet actually do not belong to the Palmae family and thus are not scientifically related.