Cocos nucifera L.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Arecaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Monoecious, medium to large, solitary palm to 30 m tall; trunk stout, 25-30 cm diam., usually leaning, ringed with many obvious large leaf scars, swollen and widest toward the base. Leaves pinnately compound, arching; blades 3-6 m long, the segments numerous, 50-70 cm long (the distal ones shorter), oblong, folded, with a stout central vein; petioles stout, woody, much shorter than the blades, enlarged at base, expanding into a fibrous sheath. Inflorescences solitary in leaf axils, the main axis ascending, with spreading slender branches. Flowers unisexual, unequal in size and shape. Staminate flowers many, on distal portion of rachilla, paired or solitary, sessile or pedicellate; sepals free to base, 2 mm long; petals valvate, ca. 1 cm long; stamens 6, the anthers sagittate; pistillode prominent, trifid. Pistillate flowers 1 to few, on proximal portion of rachilla; sepals and petals similar, 2-3 cm long; ovary conical, 3-locular, the stigmas 3, sessile. Fruit ovoid to ellipsoid, 3-angled, 20-30 cm long, with a fibrous, thick mesocarp green or yellowish green. Seeds nearly globose, hard-shelled, 10-15 cm long.
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Discussion
Common name: coconut palm.
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Distribution
Native to the tropical coast of the Pacific Ocean, introduced into the New World by European settlers for its edible seeds. Self-regenerating on sandy shores around the island, where they were originally planted. Distributed throughout tropical and subtropical shores or inland.
Saint John Virgin Islands of the United States South America|