CHAPTER VII 



COCONUTS 



The coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a native of the Malay Ar- 

 chipelago and Africa. It has been carried accidentally and 

 intentionally to all parts of the Tropics and subtropics where 

 it may now be found growing especially along the seashore, 

 but occurring also up to an elevation of 2,000 feet. The coco- 

 nut is one of the most graceful and beautiful of the palm 

 tribe of trees. It commonly reaches a height of 50 to 80 feet 

 but often attains a considerably greater height. The trunk is 

 slender and never straight. It is usually swollen and bottle- 

 shaped at the base. The roots are very numerous and long 

 and fibrous. The peculiar leaning or almost reclining habit of 

 the trunk of the coconut palm seems to be one of the natural 

 characteristics of the tree and readily distinguishes it from the 

 habit of growth of most other palms. The leaning habit is 

 not caused by winds for the reason that, in any grove of coco- 

 nuts, trees may be found leaning with the wind, directly 

 against the wind, and in all other directions without any ap- 

 parent order or preference. In many cases the trunks lean 

 as much as 15° away from the perpendicular and in the case 

 of very tall trees this must cause a great strain upon the 

 fibrous roots. Notwithstanding the height of coconut trees and 

 the fact that all of the leaves are confined to a large cluster 

 at the tip of the trunk, the trees are seldom injured by winds 

 except in the case of the most violent typhoons or hurricanes. 

 The graceful, pinnate leaves of the coconut are 6 to 12 

 feet long and 18 inches or more in width. The flowers ap- 



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