OF THE .COCOANUT DURING GERMINATION 



323 



in length. Their appearance and arrangement is shown in Fig. i, 

 on the opposite page. The tree grows to a height of about 60-100 

 feet and usually bears 80-100 nuts arranged on the tree in bunches 

 of 10-20. It continues to bear during two generations of men. 



The fruit is subtriangular-ovoid in form, 

 about I 2 inches long and 6 inches broad. It is 

 composed of a thick, fibrous " husk " (exocarp) 

 and thin, hard " shell " (endocarp), containing a 

 white fleshy seed, the " meat" (endosperm), with a 

 thin integument (testa). (See /v^. j, p. 324.) The 

 thick husk is remarkably adapted to the preser- 

 vation of the seed, whilst the nut is tossed about 

 by the waves until it reaches some shore, it may 

 be, far distant from that on which it grew. 

 While immature the nut is without the solid 

 endosperm, but is filled with a milky fluid. As 

 it ripens, however, the endosperm gradually de- 

 velops and the milky juice diminishes in quan- 

 tity. The temperature of this juice when fresh 



Fig. 2. Half- 

 grown cocoanut fruit 

 with calyx, and axis 



is always comparatively low. (See page 349 for from which the male 



flowers have fallen. 

 X i- Winton. 



further reference to the parts of the nut.) 



Figures i, 2 and 3 are from cuts loaned to 

 us by Dr. A. L. Winton, who used them lately in the account of his 

 very valuable histological study of " The Anatomy of the Fruit of 

 the Cocos nudfera."^- We are greatly indebted to Dr. Winton 

 for his kind assistance. 



The cocoanut forms the chief food of the inhabitants of Ceylon, 

 the South Sea Islands, the coast of Africa and other tropical coasts 

 and islands. t The flesh is not only eaten as it comes from the 

 tree, both ripe and unripe, but it is also prepared and served in 

 various ways. In India the " copra" is much used as an ingre- 

 dient of curries. It forms an accessory part of the diet, and is found 



* Winton : American Journal of Science, IV. 12 : 265. 1901. 



f The cocoanut is agreeable to the taste of various domestic and other animals, and 

 is eagerly eaten by them. The cocoanut-crab [Birgus latro, suborder Macrura ; an- 

 omalous form, approaching the Brachyura and closely related to the hermit crab) feeds 

 almost entirely on the kernel of the cocoanut. Its powerful claws enable it to easily 

 peel off the husk and open the hard shell. 



