COCONUT

Classification

• Scientific name - Cocos nucifera

• Genus - Cocos

• Family - Arecaceae

• Order - Arecales

• Class - Monocotyledonae

• Division - Angiospermae

• Kingdom - Plantae

Coconut tree

Important points (Coconut fruit and seed)

• Belongs to Monocot.

• Type of fruit produced is Drupe fruit.

• Single seeded fruit.

• Pericarp

  • Epicarp - Thin and membranous.

  • Mesocarp - Fibrous (coir of the coconut).

  • Endocarp - Stony (characteristic feature of Drupe fruits).

• Edible part of the fruit is Endosperm (3n).

• Seed is endospermic.

• Two types of endosperms are present i.e. free nuclear endosperm (coconut water) and cellular endosperm (white kernel).

• Fruit is hollow on maturity to float in water for seed dispersal.

Coconut fruit