origin of coconut

It paid off when the coconut culture started to pervade the market and Americans began clamoring for coconut cream pies, coconut custards, coconut frosting for desserts, coconut cookies, and other sweet coconut concoctions. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Because of this, the coconut palm now adorns tropical beaches worldwide and is considered a beach plant. Would you like to write for us? The coconut palm is a large and tall palm that exhibits a height of approximately 30 m. It has pinnate leaves, each growing to a size of around 6 m, with pinnae approximately 90 cm long. Production and Processing, All-Natural Coconut The fruit is a favorite food for the Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) larvae. We know the origin of most of the plants cultivated nowadays, thanks to the wild species. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The word "coconut" first appeared in the western world in the 15th century, when Portuguese explorers found this fruit prolifically growing on tropical islands throughout the Indian Ocean. It can be found as far as Norway in the north, where the people have for centuries ensured that the seed germinated under the right, ‘created’ conditions. We hope you are enjoying Gardenerdy! Projects Undertaken Middle Ages – Coconuts were uncommon and treasured that their shells were polished and mounted in gold. It requires warm climatic conditions for growth. Many claim that the coconut is native to Southeast Asia, and that the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, including Australia, were believed to be the likely places of origin. 85% of the world's coconut production originates in the Philippines and Indonesia, while India and Sri Lanka provide the remaining 15%. In reference to the dried, shredded flesh of the nut used in cookery and confections, by 1830. Some of the fossils found in New Zealand are indicative of the fact that the palm thrived along the New Zealand coast as far back as 15 million years ago. Baker sent the coconuts to a factory to be shredded and dried so that he can create something marketable out of them. What is known, however, is that the coconut has spread much across the tropics –thanks to its buoyant husks and leathery outside skin that floated in considerable distances in seawater without the help of humans. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The nuts were even used as shies or throwing objects at local side shows. The fruit has a special mention in the Mahavamsa texts of Sri Lanka too, dating back to the 1st century BC. 1254 – 1324 – Marco Polo referred to the coconut as Pharaoh’s Nut when he ran across it in his travels to India, Sumatra, and the Nicobar Islands. 19th Century – New transportation routes enabled Europeans to easily access coconuts brought in from the tropics. Native to the tropics, the palm seems to have found its way across the continents. These cookies do not store any personal information. Once planted, a coconut tree can grow up to 100 feet tall, and yield thousands of coconuts and many thousands of liters of sap over its 70-100 year lifespan. These traders encountered the Maldives and the Laccadives who were known for their remarkable shipbuilding ability and craftsmanship. Heritage Farm Aseptic Purees, © Copyright 2018 Hatchgrove | All Rights Reserved | Hatchgrove |. It is believed that the fruit and its palm made their way into Hawaii on account of the deliberate efforts made by Polynesian voyagers. Hawaii and Florida are the only two states in the U.S., where the palm can be grown. Its multipurpose functionality not only supplies food for millions of people, but also encompasses an extraordinary variety of other uses ranging from skincare to household cleansers, toys for children and pets, garments and fashion accessories, furniture, wall and tabletop décor, carpet, doormats, bowls, utensils, lighting fixtures, baskets, utility boxes, tables and chairs, building materials, cosmetics, gardening planters, mattresses, draperies, upholstery, chicken feed, charcoal briquettes, carbon-based water filters, and bio-diesel fuels. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The fruit borne is edible, and the water within the kernel-encasing is sweet. It is also threatened by eriophyid mites. The coconut leaf beetle feeds on the tender leaves, damaging the seedlings. The name stuck, and today the whole world knows the tree as the coconut palm. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. The coconut palm is an exception since there is no spontaneous population known of this plant. Research reveals that the palm is native to the Ganges Delta, in Asia. The coconut palm basically thrives in the world’s tropical regions. Click to read more. It not only is an integral part of cuisines from around the world, but also contains water that is consumed for its medicinal properties. Bennett also related that the charcoal from the coconut shell can be an effective tooth cleanser and that the coconut’s roots have a medicinal purpose. Learning How to Use Baking Soda Weed Killer, Sandy soil, with a high salinity tolerance, Abundant sunlight, with a mean annual temperature of 27°C, Regular rainfall of approximately 150-200 cm, annually. Interestingly, every part of it is put to some use or the other. In Asia, research reveals that the fossils unearthed in Kerala, the ‘Land of Coconuts’, are much older. Magellan left the island with much-needed provisions, including a supply of coconuts. There are a number of studies that also claim that the fruit has its origin in the northwestern region of South America. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Because they have maintained their traditional diets, they are known to be generally free of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other degenerative conditions common in our western culture. The Asian continent is the larger … There are a number of fossil records being researched upon. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The palm displays both, cross-pollination as well as self-pollination. More than just a sustainable food crop, every part of the coconut tree is useful to mankind including the roots, trunks, leaves, husks, fiber, fruit, water, sap, oil, milk and meat. Today, the Philippines is recognized as the leading nation in the world, for coconut production. Farming Alliance The natural conditions that best suit its growth are: The coconut palm is very susceptible to lethal yellowing, a phytoplasma disease. Steps we're taking to address COVID-19. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! The name was derived from the Iberian ‘El Coco‘, which referred to a mythical hairy monster. A message to our customers. At present it has spread in all the tropical area. An occasional palm is sighted in certain micro-climates like those observed in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater region, in and around Cape Canaveral, Orlando-Kissimmee-Daytona Beach, Rio Grande Valley, and Galveston Island. Many claim that the coconut is native to Southeast Asia, and that the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, including Australia, were believed to be the likely places of origin. The palm bears polygamomonoecious flowers, where both male and female flowers blossom within the same inflorescence. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This article explores the possible origins and history of the coconut tree. Botanically referred to as the Cocos nucifera, it is a member of the Arecaceae or palm family. Farmer Network There are a number of studies that also claim that the fruit has its origin in the northwestern region of South America. The suffix ‘nut‘ was added to refer to the seed-bearing palm, just like most other tree seeds are referred to, in English. Copyright © Gardenerdy & Buzzle.com, Inc. Essential Fuel Pure Coconut Protein Powder. The kernel and hair around the fruit probably generated this connection. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 14thCentury – From Marco Polo’s chronicles, Arab traders carried coconut shells from India, Sumatra, and Nicobar Islands to England before Portuguese sailors reached East Africa. Research reveals that the palm is native to the Ganges Delta, in Asia. The name ‘coconut‘, it is believed, was awarded to this tree by Spanish and Portuguese explorers. 1830 – Outside of the tropical regions, the coconut started to gain popularity when J.W. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It is interesting to note, that the coconut tree rates higher than the family cow to 1/3 of the world's population! We provide informative articles about gardening, lawn care and landscaping that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! The ships, including the hulls, masts, ropes, stitches, sails, and other parts were built entirely using different parts of the coconut tree and various coconut-based materials. These explorers named it "coquo" (coco), meaning "small animal", because the eyes and mouth on the brown outer shell reminded them of the grinning face of a monkey! Victory Gardening in 2020: Spring is Not Cancelled, Green Pavement Creates Beautiful Environmental Solutions. The coconut fruit and palm are believed to have their origin on South Asian soil. What is known, however, is that the coconut has spread much across the tropics –thanks to its buoyant husks and leathery outside skin that floated in considerable distances in …