Many people call spruce a symbol of the evergreen taiga. The symbol of the sunny, hot tropics is considered a coconut palm. Everyone has the classic paradise - a tropical landscape with snow-white sandy beaches, blue sky, bright sunshine, surprisingly clean, clear, sometimes turquoise water and always … palm.
Where does coconut grow? The story of his appearance is not exactly known. You can find out about this and much more by reading this article.
It should be noted that the rather wide distribution of this exotic culture is facilitated by the structure of its fruits, which, due to their waterproofness and ease, can swim along the waves and travel long distances in this way, while maintaining their freshness.
History of Origin
Where does coconut grow? History says that, according to some reports, the coconut palm tree originated in the Malaysian archipelago. Petrified fruits have been discovered in New Zealand. It is also known that palm trees have been growing in India for over 4, 000 years. Therefore, many scientists believe that this type of palm tree originated precisely on the coasts of the Indian Ocean.
So, perhaps the birthplace of coconut is Southeast Asia, Polynesia, India, the Pacific Islands, Hawaii, South Florida, the Caribbean and Southern California.
In fact, a tree is the most common and necessary in the tropics, and is practically a "tree of life." And this is true, because all parts of it are used in people's lives.
Coconut palm - this is one of the oldest trees on the globe, growing even in the era of dinosaurs.
Places of growth
Where do coconuts grow, in which country? This exotic fruit today exists in the wild and in culture in the Philippines, Africa, Sri Lanka, South America, India, Brazil, Thailand and the Antilles. All these countries have a rather hot tropical climate.
They are cultivated mainly in developing countries. The volume of annual coconut production is amazing. About 17 billion nuts are collected annually where coconuts grow. Country Philippines - a leading manufacturer in the world. In addition to her - Indonesia, Malaysia and India.
This fruit is the most famous of the huge Palm family (about 1500). There are more than 360 ways to use it, and half of them are associated with use in cooking.
This plant is exclusively equatorial. Widespread is associated with a person’s attitude to this plant (eating nuts, artificial planting).
Growing conditions
Where does coconut grow? A photo with views of the sea coast often has as its main element this beautiful exotic tree. This plant in nature can be found along the coasts of the ocean and the seas, and on the plains, but mainly with sandy soil.
This growth is due to the fact that the only possible natural way to move coconuts is on the surface of the water. Moving to distant shores, coconuts, with excellent waterproof properties, began to successfully conquer new territories. Palm trees growing away from the coast are the result of human activity.
Coconut palm in the wild
Where coconut grows, as is commonly associated, there are clean beaches. These are paradise islands where you can have a good rest, swimming in the warm gentle sea.
What is a coconut tree? A single trunk in the form of a pillar in a mature state can reach a height of 30 meters. It bizarrely bends under the influence of the weight of numerous fruits and various natural phenomena. The crown of the palm tree is crowned with large leaves up to 6 meters long.
At about 5 years of age, flowering begins, after which soon fruits appear in the form of nuts of drupes. They grow to a mature size for 6 months, but they become completely ripe only after a year. Typically, palm trees produce about 25 fruits per year, and in the ideal case, the number of nuts can reach up to 70 pieces.
The total lifespan of a palm tree is about 90 years, so most often it represents a food source and property for many generations of natives.
Coconut cultivated
Where do coconuts grow in culture? In many hot countries. Almost artificially grown palm begins to bear fruit from 7-9 years, and this lasts for about 50 years. Fruits are arranged in groups of up to 20 pieces together. They fully ripen within 9-10 months. The yield of one tree per year is 60-120 fruits.
This tropical unique tree is the only representative of the Coconut genus, one of the most useful palm trees in the world.
Coconut Description
Where coconut grows, the fruits look a little different than people see it on the shelves of trading floors. Under natural conditions, the nut is much larger.
The outer fibrous sheath (exocarp) of the nut protects it when it falls. The inner shell (endocarp) is a shell with 3 pores, similar to the eyes. They lead to three ovules, one of which develops into a seed consisting of a surface fleshy layer of white color (thickness 12 mm) and endosperm (transparent and liquid - coconut water). The oil that appears in it, secreted by copra, slowly turns into a milk emulsion, and then, hardening, hardens.
Application
For construction, wood and palm leaves are widely used, and fruits are used for food. However, it should be noted that for many people this palm tree may turn out to be a tree of death, since a blow of a coconut that fell on his head can even lead to death. According to existing statistics, approximately 150 people die from the fall of these fruits annually. On average, the weight of a coconut is approximately 1 kilogram (3 kilograms are also found), moreover, it hits the ground with a force of 1 ton. To a greater extent, the fine natural material is found in the inhabitants of those countries where coconut grows.
Breeding
Coconut is propagated by nuts. To grow it at home, the fruit should be half placed in the prepared earth in a pot. Usually a young plant is a bunch of flexible wide leaves. Then, more mature palm trees appear trunk. However, the chances of getting fruits at home, it can be said, are zero (even in greenhouses).
Be sure to remember the following: in order to grow coconut at home, you must use a ripe fruit. This is an important condition.
Coconut should be placed in a soil containing a lot of sand, so that the eyes located at its base, as a result, are on the side (almost horizontal position).
To accelerate the process of germination, it is necessary to constantly keep the substrate in a wet state. Sprinkle the planted nut with a solution containing a small amount of sea salt. You can also put a pot of nuts in a plastic bag, as this will help maintain an appropriate atmosphere (high humidity and temperature).
Coconut is a photophilous plant that needs at least 12 light hours to grow normally. Starting in May and throughout the summer, abundant watering is required 2 times a week, and usually - for this period, one moderate watering is sufficient. You can fertilize with special tools for palm and mullein infusion.
For germination of sprouts, the optimum temperature is 24 ° C, and for an adult plant - about 22 ° C.
Typically, the following varieties of coconut palms are used for growing at home: Weddel coconut and miniature.
Copra
Coconut water is the inner part of the endosperm, and its outer part is copra. The second is a source of coconut oil, which is a rather valuable product due to the content of various fatty acids in it. It is mainly used for health and cosmetic purposes.
This is an oily dried secondary nut endosperm. The copra consists of white or yellowish pieces covered with skin. Their thickness is 6-12 mm. One nut gives up to 500 grams of copra, which is an edible product containing 9% protein, 6% water, 16% carbohydrates and 67% fat.
Where coconut grows, harvesting copra at one time was almost the main occupation of the inhabitants of the islands in the tropics. Atolls (where there were few palm trees) were specially planted with coconut palms. Kopra is a valuable commercial product that has long been traded on the southern seas. And today they are engaged in its procurement.
The largest copra miners are considered Filipinos. Both large companies and farmers procure it.
It is worth noting that if the copra is improperly dried, molds can form on it, producing deadly poison (Aflatoxin). This most powerful carcinogen can cause liver disease. Copra cannot be eaten, but it is sold. Oil is obtained from it, and it, obtained industrially, is harmless.
Coconut tree in Archege
Where does coconut grow? Archage (Korean fantasy online multiplayer game) uses coconut as one of its game elements. The action in the game takes place in the universe (fantasy world) ArcheAge. Here, like any other fruit, coconut juice can be made. Their most important mission at ArcheAge is to make the lacquered composition necessary to create leather armor. Moreover, this varnish can either be sold or used to create your own equipment.
Where does coconut grow in this fictional country?
- In the swampy lowlands.
- On the land of talking stones.
- On the peninsula of dawn.
At ArcheAge, a coconut tree is one of those trees whose seedlings cannot be bought from consortium merchants. And the fruits of the game are necessary for the production of some useful potions and the best armor.
