Coconut (Cocos nucifera, Sp. Pl.: 1188 (1753))

Family: Arecaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 1188 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cocos

Vegetable: False

Observations: C. Malesia to SW. Pacific

Description

The Coconut, scientifically known as Cocos nucifera, is a prominent member of the Arecaceae family. Perennially beloved in tropical regions, this versatile palm holds immense cultural, economic, and ecological importance. It is believed to have originated from the expansive region of Malesia to the southwestern Pacific, thriving in this diverse and dynamic environment.

This species, first classified in the seminal work “Species Plantarum” in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus, has since become a global agricultural staple. The coconut palm, with its towering, graceful stature, is instantly recognizable: its slender trunk can soar up to 30 meters, crowned with a canopy of feathery, fan-like fronds. Each leaf can stretch up to six meters in length, creating a lush, tropical aesthetic synonymous with beachside paradises and island landscapes.

The coconut itself is botanically unique, a drupe rather than a true nut. Its layers include an external fibrous husk, a hard inner shell, and the nutrient-rich, edible kernel, often referred to as the “meat.” Additionally, the interior cavity is filled with coconut water, a refreshing and hydrating liquid.

Coconuts play a crucial role in the livelihoods of millions, offering nutritional and economic benefits. The flesh of the coconut can be consumed fresh or processed into products such as coconut oil, milk, and flour. The liquid inside is enjoyed as a beverage or used as a base in cooking and cosmetic products.

Beyond its culinary uses, the coconut palm is valued for its extraordinary versatility. The fibrous husk, or coir, is utilized in the production of ropes, mats, and brushes, while the leaves serve as traditional roofing materials and the trunk as timber for construction. Even the shell can be repurposed into bowls, utensils, and handicrafts.

Environmental sustainability is another commendable attribute of coconut cultivation. The palms are resilient, capable of thriving in sandy soils and saline environments, thus playing a significant role in coastal stabilization and preventing soil erosion.

In traditional and modern practices, every part of the coconut palm is used to its fullest, echoing the ingenuity of the communities that cultivate it. From its origins in Malesia to its spread across the tropical belt, the coconut remains a symbol of life and sustenance, embodying the intertwined relationship between humans and nature.

Common Names

Fi: Kookospalmu
Spa: coco, palma de coco, cocotero
Msa: coconut
Eng: coconut palm, coconut, copra
Deu: kokosnuß, kokospalme
Por: coco-da-bahia, coco-verde, coqueiro, coqueiro-da-praia
Fra: cocotier
Swe: kokospalm
Swa: mnazi
En: Coconut, Coconut palm, Copra, Agbon, Aku oyinbo, Coco, Coconut tree, Cocotero, Cocotier, Coqueiro, Kelapa, Koko, Kokosneut, Kokosov orah, Kokospalme, Kookospalmu, Mosara, Nalikera, Narikela, Nariyal, Nariyel, Nazi, Nirikel, Niu, Niyog, Noril, Nrglah, Pol, Kube, Nuu-hun, Nyuh, Nyèor, Ohi, U, Հնդկընկոյզ, नारियल, ꯌꯨꯕꯤ
Af: Kokosneut, Kokospalm
Ak: Kube
Sq: Arra e kokosit
Am: ኮኮነት ዘምባባ
Ar: فارسی, Jadhirdah, Jooz al-hind, جوز الهند
Hy: Կոկոսյան արմավենի
Az: Kokos palması
Eu: Kokondo
Be: Какосавая пальма
Bn: Narakel, Nariyal, Nirikel, নারিকেল
Bi: Kokonas
Br: Gwez koko
Bg: Кокосова палма
My: အုန်းသီး
Ca: Cocoter
Zh: 可可椰子, 椰子
Cv: Кокос пальми
Hr: Kokosov orah, Kokosova palma
Cs: Kokosovník ořechoplodý
Da: Kokos
Dv: ކުރުނބާ
Nl: Coco, Cocos, Klapperboom, Kokospalm
Eo: Kokoso
Et: Kookospalm
Fj: Niu
Fr: Cocotier, Coco, Cocotier commun, Noix de coco, Koko
Gl: Coco
Ka: Ქოქოსი
De: Kokosnuß, Kokospalme, Kokosnusspalme, Kokos
El: Κοκοφοίνικας
Gn: Mbokaja’a
Gu: નારિયેળ
Ht: Kokoye
Ha: Mosara, Attagara
He: קוקוס
Hi: नारियल
Hu: Kókuszpálma
Is: Kókoshneta
Io: Kokoso
Ig: Aku oyinbo
Id: Kelapa, Niyog, Nyiur
Ia: Palma de coco
Ga: Cnó cócó
It: Palma da cocco, Cocco
Jv: Krambil
Kn: ತೆಂಗಿನಕಾಯಿ
Kk: Кокос пальмасы
Km: ដើមដូង
Ko: 코코넛
Ku: Gûza hindê
Lo: ນາລິກາ
Lv: Kokospalma
Li: Kokespaum
Ln: Kokotí
Lt: Riešutinė kokospalmė
Lb: Kokosnoss
Mk: Кокосова палма
Mg: Voaniho
Ms: Pokok Kelapa, Coconut
Ml: തെങ്ങ്
Mt: Kokonat
Gv: Cro bainney
Mr: नारळ
Mn: Далдуу мод
Mi: Kokonati
Nv: Mágí bichʼiyąʼ
Ne: नरिवल
No: Kokosnøtt, Kokospalme
Or: ନଡ଼ିଆ
Pa: ਨਾਰੀਅਲ
Ps: ناريال
Fa: Nārgīlah, نارگیل
Pl: Palma kokosowa
Pt: Coqueiro, Coco da Bahia, Coco da India, Coquerio de Bahia, Coco, Coco-verde, Coco-da-bahia, Coqueiro-da-praia, Coqueiro da Bahia
Pt-br: Coco-da-bahia, Coco-da-praia, Coqueiro-da-bahia, Coqueiro-da-praia, Coqueiro
Qu: Pikwayu
Ro: Cocotier
Ru: Кокосовая пальма
Sa: Narikela, नारिकेलम्
Sr: Кокосова палма
Sd: ناريل
Si: Pol, පොල්
Sk: Kokosovník
So: Qumbe
Es: Cocotero, Coco de agua, Palma de Coco, Palmera de coco, Kokosova palma, Coco, Coco fruto, Pipa
Su: Kalapa
Sw: Mnazi, Mnazi (mti)
Sv: Kokospalm, Kokosnöt
Tl: Niyog, Buko
Ty: Niu
Zh-tw: 可可椰子
Ta: தேங்காய்
Tt: Һинд чикләвеге
Te: కొబ్బరి
Th: มะพร้าว
Bo: བེ་ཏ།
To: Niu
Zh-hant: 椰子
Tr: Hindistan cevizi
Uk: Кокосова пальма
Ur: ناریل
Vi: Dừa
Cy: Cnau coco
Fy: Kokospalm
Wo: Koko, Kokko
Yi: קאקאס
Yo: Agbon

Synonyms

• Cocos nucifera var. ossea (Blume)
• Cocos indica (Royle)
• Cocos nucifera var. palmyrensis ((Becc.) Becc.)
• Cocos nucifera var. lansiformis (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. pinang (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. tabogog (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. subamara (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. mamillaris ((Blanco) Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. pumila (Hassk.)
• Cocos nucifera var. calimbahin (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. laetevirens (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. nana ((Griff.) G.V.Narayana)
• Cocos nucifera var. austera (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. eburnea (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. rubescens (Hassk.)
• Cocos nucifera var. pruniformis (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. viridis (Hassk.)
• Cocos nucifera var. crassissima (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. saccharina (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. edulis (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. subcandida (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. alba (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. maldivica (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. macrocarpa (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. lolog (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. tenuissima (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. elongata (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. humilis (Blume)
• Calappa nucifera ((L.) Kuntze)
• Cocos nana (Griff.)
• Cocos nucifera var. machaeroides (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. rutila (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. iners (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. alangan (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. suavis (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. bego (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. como (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. aurea (Anon.)
• Cocos nucifera var. synphyllica (Becc.)
• Cocos nucifera var. capuliformis (Blume)
• Palma cocos (Mill.)
• Cocos nucifera var. javanica (G.V.Narayana)
• Cocos nucifera var. spicata (K.C.Jacob)
• Cocos nucifera var. regia (Blume)
• Cocos mamillaris (Blanco)
• Cocos nucifera var. fragilis (Blume)
• Diplothemium henryanum (F.Br.)
• Cocos nucifera var. tamisan (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. sapida (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. stupposa (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera f. palmyrensis (Becc.)
• Cocos nucifera var. buri (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. cistiformis (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. pretiosa (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. delicata (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. fibrosa (Blume)
• Cocos nucifera var. angustifolia (Hassk.)
• Cocos nucifera var. microcarpa (Hassk. ex F.W.T.Hunger)

Distribution

• Bismarck Archipelago (native)
• Maluku (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Samoa (native)
• Santa Cruz Is. (native)
• Solomon Is. (native)
• Tonga (native)
• Vanuatu (native)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Borneo (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• Central American Pac (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• Chile North (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Christmas I. (introduced)
• Cocos (Keeling) Is. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• Easter Is. (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Gabon (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Ghana (introduced)
• Gilbert Is. (introduced)
• Guinea (introduced)
• Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Ivory Coast (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Laccadive Is. (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Liberia (introduced)
• Line Is. (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Maldives (introduced)
• Marcus I. (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Marshall Is. (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Mozambique Channel I (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Ogasawara-shoto (introduced)
• Phoenix Is. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South China Sea (introduced)
• Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Sulawesi (introduced)
• Sumatera (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Togo (introduced)
• Tokelau-Manihiki (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Tuvalu (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)

Additional Images

Fruit

Taken Jun 8, 2021 by am (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 5, 2020 by Bohdan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 31, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 21, 2020 by Ravina ahir (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2019 by Nathalie Quéré – Le Gall (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Feb 1, 2018 by Lennaert Steen (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 21, 2021 by louise liguori scheck (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 9, 2021 by selber pflanzen (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 8, 2013 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 23, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Oct 7, 2021 by Paul Kabungo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 4, 2019 by Urja Chitrakar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 10, 2019 by Leonardo Leonardo Trindade De Jesus (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 22, 2019 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 6, 2016 by Christian (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 1, 2021 by joodmood (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 2, 2020 by Philipp Grossenbacher (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 22, 2020 by Mama Wimbo (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2022 by Mary Kingfishers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 10, 2022 by Carl Hermann Suppe (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jun 16, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 29, 2021 by Guerreiro FerNanda (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 19, 2020 by Diego Alex (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 4, 2022 by Fozame (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Oct 11, 2022 by Jose Andrade (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 28, 2016 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 9, 2019 by Goustan Bodin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 9, 2019 by Goustan Bodin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 28, 2016 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2735117)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:666160-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cocos nucifera L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Single Stem

Growth habit: Tree

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Description: “”

Sowing: “”

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 4.0

Light: 9