Coconut Palms – Cocos nucifera

• Height can reach up to 80 ft. and live over 100 years.
• Very common palm tree.
• Tallest specimen in U.S.
• Extensive root system, slender trunks can resist wave force.
• Coconut is important in ali’I and maka’ainana culture.

    Source: (Majesty II, 1991)

• Native to Eastern tropical zones.

    Source: (NTBG, 2016)

• Universal symbol for tropics.
• World’s most economically important plant.
• Coconuts, flowers, or leaves could be green, yellow, or orange.
• Good salt tolerance at root zone, but leaves can get salt spray damage if not rain-washed.
• They need moisture.

    Source: (Rauch, 2000)

• Worn above dancer’s knee in ceremonial dance.
• Coconut was generally planted and eaten on by men.

    ​Source: (Wageman, 2008)

• Called “tree of heaven” and “tree of life”.
• Thrives in sun.
• Most dangerous disease to them is the lethal yellowing disease.
• Coconut water is the “perfect drink”.
• Provides coconut milk.
• Falling coconuts can be extremely dangerous.

    ​Source: (Elevitch, 2006)