BEnTroS
DATE:  5.Jul.97
TIME: 12:28

* G E N E R A L   D A T A *

Scient. name.....: Cocos nucifera
Family...........: Arecaceae
Plant height.....: 30
Color of flower..: WHITE

H a b i t u s:
Tall palm with large pinnate leaves and a dense 
monoec. inflorescence. The stem rarely stands 
vertically but makes a gradual curve; this would 
appear to be due to heliotropism.

C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s:
Large, one-seeded fruits, capable of floating 
long distances, dense rooting system near the 
surface, which forms adventive roots. Salttolerant, 
strong light-demanding, shade tolerant. Requires 
high groundwater table, drought sensitive, tolerant 
to shallow soils, to seasonal waterlogging, to 
saltspray and to constant wind exposure. Can reach 
an age of more than 100 years, main fruiting period 
and cropping results between the 12. to 40. year, 
often forms pure stand along coastlines. On acid as 
well as alkaline soils, wide pH-range (4,3-8,3). 
Grows in a wide range of annual precipitation 
(700-4200)., root buds.

R a n g e   o f   u s e:
Used for erosion control and soil conservation, 
dune fixation and other land reclamation, also 
as windbreak shelter and life fencing. Improved 
fallow-/soil fertility and riverbank stabilization. 
Yields mulching material. The world's chief producer 
of vegetable fat (from Copra). The oil ist extracted 
by boiling or pressure. The refused cake left after 
the expression of the oil is a valuable fattening 
food for cattle. Milk is expressed from the kernel 
for flavouring. The outer wood of the stem is used 
for rafters and building; nowadays it is also used 
for producing furniture. The large leaves are woven 
into cadjans for thatching, mats, baskets etc.  
Needs sufficient Cl for best growth results. 
Susceptible to browsing and termites. Intolerant to 
fire, damages by fungi quite often. 
Diseases: 
Lethal yellowing = Mykoplasmose (Carribean); 
Resistant species: 
Malayan dwarfs; Cadang-cadang (Philippines); 
Kerala (India). Subfamily: Arecoideae

L i t r a t u r e:
Bärtels, A. 1989; Lötschert, W., Beese, G. 1984; Duke, J. 1986; Mabberley, D.J. 1990; 
Willis, J.C. 1966; FAO, M. Leloup 1957; Franke, G. 1982; Franke, W. 1989; 
Grandjot, W. 1981; Mansfeld, R. 1986; Rehm, S. and Espig, G. 1984; 
Carlowitz, Wolf, Kempermann 1991; ICRAF 1990

B I O L O G I C A L   E N G I N E E R I N G   D A T A
Erosion control.....: YES
Ground stabilisation: YES
Initial regreening..: 
Reforestation.......: 
Hedges/windbreaks...: 
MPTS services.......: YES
Agroforestry........: 
Other uses..........: YES

* S P E C I A L   D A T A *

C O M M O N   N A M E S
Coco
Coconut
Cocotier
Kokospalme

L I F E Z O N E S
Tw

R E G I O N S  O F  D I V E R S I T Y
Indochinese-Indonesian Region

H A B I T / S I T E
coastal areas
saline soils

L I F E S T Y L E
palmtree

P R O P A G A T I O N
natural regeneration
seedlings

U T I L I S A T I O N
fruits
leaves
seeds
wood

B I O L O G I C A L  E N G I N E E R I N G
bank stabilization

C O N S T R U C T I O N S
tree/shrub planting