NameCoconut
Scientific NameCocos nucifera
NativeNative to coastal areas of southeast Asia
Common/English NameCoconut, Coconut Palm
Name in Other LanguagesNepalese: Narival
Ethiopia: Kokas
Turkish: Hindistancevizi
Palauan: Iru
Albania: Arre kokosi
Banaban: Te Ni
Yap: Lu
Brazil: Coco
Persian: Nârgil
Bulgarian: Kokos
Italian: Cocco
Chinese: Ye Zi
Polish: Kokos
Icelandic: Kokoshenta
Chuuk: Nu
Khmer: Doung
Dutch: Kokos
Russian: Kokos
Arabic: Gawz El Hind
South Africa: Khokhonate
Finnish: Kookospähkinä
Pohnpei: Ni
French: Coco
Ukrainian: Kokos
Japanese: Koko Yashi
Taiwan: Ke Ke Ye Zi
Guam: Niyog
Hawaii: Ō‘Io
Cook Islands: Nu
Spanish: Coco
Hebrew: Kokus
Rotuman: Niu
Vietnamese: Dừa
India: Narikol
Burmese: Mak Un On
Indonesia: Bhungkana
Czech: Kokos
Romanian: Cocotier
Kenya: Dafu
Estonian: Kookospalm
German: Kokos
Society Islands: Ha‘Ari
Kiribati: Te Ni
Guyana: Coconut
Polynesia: Niu
Croatian: Kokosov Orah
Tanzania: Dafu
Kosrae: Lu
Zaire: Dafu
Papua New Guinea: Kokonas
Laotian: Kok Mak Phao
Fijian: Niu
Swahili: Mnazi
Portuguese: Coco Da Bahia
Slovenian: Kokos
Malaysia: Kelapa
Danish: Kokos
Marshall Islands: Ni
Thai: Dung (Chong-Chan-Thaburi)
Korean: K’o K’o Neos
Sri Lanka: Polgaha
North Mariana Islands: Nizok
Swedish: Kokos
Australia: Kunga
Philippines: Lubi
Hungarian: Kókusz
Armenian: Hantkakan Engouz
Greek: Kokkofoinika
Isle of Man: Crobainery
Plant Growth HabitTall, erect, single-stemmed, monoecious palm
Growing ClimateThrives best in full sun
SoilAdaptable to a wide range of soil types light, medium and heavy, – peaty soil, sandy, calcareous, saline to clayey soils. It tolerates alkaline soils. Although coarse sand is its natural habitat, the best growth is obtained on free-draining, deep soils with good physical and chemical properties. It is thus widely grown on loams as well as clays that are well-drained. Coconut is intolerant of water-logging will not survive more than 2 weeks of surface water logging. Coconut tolerates drought poorly.
Plant Size30 m (98 ft) tall
RootFibrous root system
TrunkSlender, more or less curved or inclined, stout trunk, 30–45 cm diameter
LeafFrond-like, 2–6 m long, clustered at top of trunk, pinnatisect
Leaflets0.6–1 m long, narrow, linear-lanceolate, bright green, inserted on rachis in 2 ranks.
FlowerThe palm produces both the female and male flowers on the same inflorescence; thus, the palm is monoecious. Male flowers with six creamy-yellow perianth segments surrounding six Stamens, pistillode topped by 3 nectar glands. Female flowers, sweet-scented, larger, globose, with 6 creamy-yellow perianth segment in two whorls, with 6 staminodes, 3-locule ovary, and a trifid stigma.
Fruit Shape & SizeElongated, ovoid, ellipsoid to almost spherical
Fruit WeightWeigh between 0.85 and 3.7 kg
Fruit ColorLight green when young, which becomes dry and turn gray as the nut matures
Fruit SkinAbout 1-2 inches in thickness and made of tough fibers.
Flesh ColorWhite
TasteMild and Sweet
SeedSeed comprises the dark brown shell, kernel, cavity and embryo.
Major NutritionTotal Fat (lipid) 26.79 g (76.54%)
Manganese, Mn 1.2 mg (52.17%)
Copper, Cu 0.348 mg (38.67%)
Iron, Fe 1.94 mg (24.25%)
Total dietary Fiber 7.2 g (18.95%)
Selenium, Se 8.1 µg (14.73%)
Phosphorus, P 90 mg (12.86%)
Carbohydrate 12.18 g (9.37%)
Zinc, Zn 0.88 mg (8.00%)
Valine 0.162 g (7.67%)
Health Benefits
  • Good for your heart
  • Weight management
  • Blood sugar control
  • Protects against infection
  • Improves digestion
  • Prevents skin infection
  • Promotes hair growth
  • Gives your energy levels a boost
  • Candida
  • Healing and Infections
  • Stress relief
  • Bone Health
  • Dental care
  • Boosts Hydration
  • Reduces Blood Pressure
  • Relieves Hangovers
  • Treats Headaches
Calories in 1 cup (80 gm)283 K cal

Coconut Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Cocos nucifera

RankScientific Name & (Common Name)
KingdomPlantae (Plants)
SubkingdomTracheobionta (Vascular plants)
SuperdivisionSpermatophyta (Seed plants)
DivisionMagnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
ClassLiliopsida (Monocotyledons)
SubclassArecidae
OrderArecales
FamilyArecaceae (Palm family)
GenusCocos L. (Coconut palm)
SpeciesCocos nucifera L. (Coconut palm)
Synonyms
  • Calappa nucifera (L.) Kuntze
  • Cocos indica Royle
  • Cocos mamillaris Blanco
  • Cocos nana Griff.
  • Cocos nucifera var. alangan Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. alba Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. angustifolia Hassk.
  • Cocos nucifera var. aurea auct.
  • Cocos nucifera var. austera Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. bego Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. buri Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. calimbahin Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. capuliformis Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. cistiformis Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. como Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. crassissima Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. delicata Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. eburnea Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. edulis Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. elongata Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. fibrosa Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. fragilis Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. humilis Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. iners Blume
  • Cocos nucifera var. javanica G.V.Narayana, no Latin descr.