Coconut Tree: The Tree of Life
Why is a coconut tree called “The Tree of Life”? Let’s all find out together.
The Coconut Tree is known to have many uses, from its roots to tips (leaves), from culinary to non-culinary. In the Philippines, the coconut tree is considered as the “Tree of Life”.
You must be wondering, why is that so? Allow me to cite the different parts of the coconut tree and its corresponding benefits and/or uses. Let’s start with…
-
Coconut Roots
Coconut roots are used as beverage, dye, mouthwash, and medicine for dysentery (formerly known as flux or the bloody flux). A frayed-out piece of root can also be used as a toothbrush.
-
Coconut Trunks
Coconut trunks, its hardy and durable wood is used for building small bridges, preferred for their straightness, strength and salt resistance. It is also used to make benches, tables, carvings, picutre frames, tables, tool boxes and construction materials, among others. Paper pulp can also be extracted from the coconut trunk and other woody parts of the tree.
-
Coconut Branches
Coconut branches (leaf petioles) are strong and flexible enough to make a switch (a flexible rod, typically used for corporal punishment).
-
Coconut Leaves
-
Coconut Fruit
Coconut fruit produces buko, often used for salads, halo-halo (crushed ice with sweetened fruit), sweets and pastries. The “sport fruit” of the coconut known as makapuno is primarily harvested in the Philippines. They are sold in jars as “gelatinous mutant coconut” cut into balls or strands. Considered a delightful delicacy and largely used for making preserves and ice-cream. It is possible for it not to be kept in storage and still, will not germinate.
-
Coconut Meat
Coconut meat is the thick white, fleshy substance found inside the coconut shell. It is edible and can be used fresh or dried in cooking. It can also be used to obtain coco flour, desiccated coconut, coconut milk, coconut chips, coconut candies, bukayo or local sweetened shredded coconut meat, latik copra and even, animal feeds.
-
Coconut Water
Coconut water provides an isotonic electrolyte balance, and is a highly nutritious food source. Uses of coconut water include: coconut water vinegar; coconut wine; production of the chewy, fiber-rich “nata”, good as a dessert and as a laxative; as a growth factor; and as a substitute for dextrose. It is also used to cure renal disorders. “Bukolysis” is the medical process of reducing or dissolving urinary stones from the urinary tract, using buko water from 7 to 9 months old coconuts. If you heard of “water therapy”, there is also such thing as “buko/coconut therapy”.
-
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is made by processing grated coconut with hot water or milk, which extracts the oil and aromatic compounds. It should not be confused with the coconut water mentioned above, and has a fat content of approximately 17%. When refrigerated and left to set, coconut cream will rise to the top and separate out the milk. The milk is used to produce virgin coconut oil. It is a common ingredient in many tropical cuisines. In Thailand, coconut milk is the base of most Thai curries.
-
Coconut Oil
Copra is the dried coconut meat and, after further processing, is a source of high coconut oil content (as much as 64%). Coconut oil is the most readily digested, of all the fats, generally used in the world. Its chief competitors are soya bean oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil. It can be rapidly processed and extracted as a fully organic product from fresh coconut flesh, and used in many ways including as a medicine and in cosmetics, or as a direct replacement for diesel fuel. Virgin coconut oil is found superior to the oil extracted from copra for cosmetic purposes.
-
(Coconut) Apical Bud
Apical buds of adult plants are edible and are known as “palm-cabbage” or heart-of-palm. In the Philippines, it is known as ubod and considered one of the finest vegetables. It is considered a rare delicacy, as the act of harvesting the bud, could kill the palm. It can be served in many appetizing ways. Cubed in fairly large bits, makes a wonderful addition to Spanish rice, or in their long strips, to Arroz a la Cubana. It is also eaten in salads (mixed with mayonnaise or thousand island dressing), known as “Millionaire’s Salad”.
-
Coconut Infloresence
Out of the bud of the coconut tree’s infloresence is a fermented juice called coconut toddy or, in the Philippines, tuba. The principal uses of the toddy are: as fresh beverage; for producing alcoholic beverages; for producing vinegar; for making sugar; and as a source of yeast for making bread.
-
Coconut Husk
Coconut husks are made of bristle fiber (10%), mattress fiber (20%) and coir dust and shorts or wastes (70%). Coir is used in ropes, mats, brushes, caulking boats and as stuffing fibre; it is also used extensively in horticulture for making potting compost. The husk can be used for fuel and are a good source of charcoal. Dried half coconut shells with husks are used to buff wooden floors, making it clean and shiny (free from dusts). In the Philippines, it is known as “bunot”. Fresh inner coconut husk can be rubbed on the lens of snorkelling goggles to prevent fogging during use.
-
Coconut Shell
Coconut shell produces the core of the most saleable household products and fashion accessories that can be turned into lucrative, wide-selling cottage industries. In the Philippines, dried half shells are used as musical instrument in a folk dance called “Maglalatik”, a traditional dance about conflicts for coconut meat within the Spanish era. They are also used in theatres, banged together to create the sound effect of a horses’ hoofbeats. Half coconut shells may be deployed as an improvised bra, especially for comedic effect or theatrical purposes. Shirt buttons can be carved out of dried coconut shell. Coconut buttons are often used for Hawaiian Aloha shirts.
Coconut leaves can be woven to create effective roofing materials, or reed mats. It can also produce good quality paper pulp, midrib brooms, hats and mats, fruit trays, waste baskets, fans, beautiful midrib decors, lamp shades, placemats, and bags. The stiff leaflet midribs can also be used to make cooking skewers and kindling arrows. Dried coconut leaves can be burned to ash, which can be harvested for lime.
You see how amazing the coconut tree is? In fact, in the Philippines, it is considered as one of the major dollar earner industry that provides livelihood to most of the country’s population. Indeed, a Tree of Life!
And did you know that in World War II, coastwatcher scout Biuki Gasa was the first of two from the Solomon Islands to reach the shipwrecked, wounded, and exhausted crew of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 commanded by then, the future U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Gasa suggested, for lack of paper, delivering by dugout canoe, a message inscribed on a husked coconut shell. This coconut shell was later kept on the President’s desk, and is now, in the John F. Kennedy Library.
Liked it
Published in: Consumer Information
viju | Apr 29, 2008 | Reply
This is inevitable, so I am writing it. Coming from the only other place where all these uses of coconut are being utilized, I can’t but say this. Kerala, a small state in the south of India is famous for exploiting coconut its maximum. To an extent that causes much ridicule from other states. We use coconut for every purpose stated above and more. the apical buds are also used in Ayurvedic medicines another specialty of Kerala.The alcoholic drink is called ‘Kallu’. The oil is used for cooking as well as a hair oil. And yes it is known as Kalpavriksha (Divine Tree). Nice to see such a parallel
jhenz | Apr 29, 2008 | Reply
Hello viju,
It’s nice of you to drop by.
Thank you…
I’m just curious, how come it causes much ridicule? I just can’t imagine any reason.
karan | May 21, 2008 | Reply
can someone tell the difference between coconut and tendor coconut?
and also between husk and shell?
jhenz | May 21, 2008 | Reply
Hello Karan,
I actually haven’t heard of tendor coconut, but based on my researches, I believe they meant it as the young coconut or the “buko” (anybody can correct me if I’m wrong). As for the coconut, its the general term. They mean the same thing.
On the other hand, the difference between husk and shell is that, the husk is obtained by cutting the coconut into half and taking the coconut meat out (see the particular image on the lower right corner of the whole illustration above — minus the white part). The shell is the container of both the coconut meat and juice (see particular image on the upper left corner of the whole illustration). It is free of the thick, hairy part the coconut has.
Hope I was able to enlighten you. Thanks!
P.S. Everybody is welcome to add up on the information.
coconut fiber | Jul 2, 2008 | Reply
why there is no coconut fiber??
Trevor | Sep 18, 2008 | Reply
Can anybody tell me what disease can destroy the whole tree leaving only the dead trunk. I,m tryin to help commuties with this problem find a way to deal with this positively
jhenz | Sep 18, 2008 | Reply
Hello Trevor,
I think I’ve heard that in some local news and it was really devastating — the killing of coconut trees, even the young ones.
I can refer a few links which might help you enlighten about this.
Here is what I see the most closest to what you’re looking for…
Philippine Coconut Leaf Beetle featured on The Correspondents
(http://www.alternat1ve.com/biofuel/2007/10/31/philippine-coconut-leaf-beetle-featured-on-the-correspondents/)
Other links that might be of help includes the following:
Coconut industry threatened by Lethal Yellowing (http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2008/09/02/121735.html)
RED PALM WEEVIL IS ATTACKING PALMS IN PORTUGAL
(http://www.portugalholidaydestinations.co.uk/villas/2008/05/portugal_palms_at_risk_from_pl.shtml)
jaiken | Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
hey! is there any diseases that the coconut trees produce. i really don’t know much coconut. why that they called the coconut tree, the tree of life? wait is there any virus in my computer.
make that two times.
jackie | Sep 25, 2008 | Reply
hey!why is the coconut tree called the tree of life?
khim | Oct 2, 2008 | Reply
the coconut is great 4 you & 4 me
Rumi | Oct 8, 2008 | Reply
I find the article very interesting!
arnie | Oct 22, 2008 | Reply
what are the components of coconut buds????
Migs | Oct 26, 2008 | Reply
It helps me alot in my schoolwork.
Thanks for your help.
I will visit this website again sometime.
lesly | Oct 26, 2008 | Reply
hello there the angel from my nightmare.
for me the coconut tree is an angel.
it gives us our needs.
ASMA | Oct 27, 2008 | Reply
Good info but qs is how coconut trees got at beach?
jhenz | Oct 27, 2008 | Reply
@migs: that is really flattering to hear. thank you.
@arnie: haven’t research about that yet, but i’ll try looking for that.
@ASMA: hmm… that is a good question. according to what i’ve heard, coconuts grow mostly on beaches because their seeds travel by the sea and end up at beaches across the world where they pop and grow.
dudette | Nov 3, 2008 | Reply
yo dudes, calm down. peace be with coconut trees, they are cool.
(:
Supremely Hurt | Nov 3, 2008 | Reply
This has injured me, a 54 year old man who has dedicated most of his life to the beauty and wonder of the coconut tree.
I bid you good day.
And even though I have never had a relationship that lasted longer than a – well, I’ve never had a relationship, I like to think that I am married to the coconut tree.
We have a caring relationship.
mhacko | Nov 9, 2008 | Reply
wow amazing…it really helps to my niece project..thank you..keep up the good work..
Maeves | Nov 16, 2008 | Reply
it really is what i needed for my homework and i got additional points cause of this website!!!
May god bless this website and the creators…
thank you! very much!!
thank you ,thank you, thank you!!!
fam | Nov 24, 2008 | Reply
coconut tree is so amazing
sri | Dec 9, 2008 | Reply
coconut tree is a very useful tree like none other tree. it is the most usefull and very beautifull tree. it is one of the amazing tree created by God.
RAKSHA MOHAN | Dec 9, 2008 | Reply
It was really usefull for my project. i thank this website creator.
eddiego65 | Dec 21, 2008 | Reply
Wow, very versatile tree and fruit. Great work.
joshua | Jan 27, 2009 | Reply
I LOVE COCUNUTS
richard | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
thanks people. this helped me for my daughter’s school assignment. hehe.
just copied the whole article!
jhenz | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
thanks everyone for dropping by and for your good words!
@richard: i’m really pleased that my article have helped your daughter’s school assignment. no amount of words can really express my joy knowing that this simple article have imparted knowledge for the majority.
thank you all!
K Vasudev | Mar 15, 2009 | Reply
Coconut Branches
Coconut branches (leaf petioles) are getin dry and itas folded towords the steam please same body help me what to do
My e-mail is kvasu@nal.res.in
CRAIG | Apr 22, 2009 | Reply
YO DIS IS WELL COOL.
IT WELL HELPED ME WITH MY HOMEWORK.
MAN, YOU ROCK.
Cholena | Apr 23, 2009 | Reply
Helped with my daughter’s project . Thx .
William | Apr 26, 2009 | Reply
Amazing! It is very informative…
chazz:) | May 14, 2009 | Reply
yep coconut tree is really productive
(:
Maria Christel Brown | Jun 10, 2009 | Reply
Hello,
I have a little coconut farm in Bahia Brasil. I’m looking for organic solution to get rid of bugs and ants on the trees.
We fertilize the trees and clean them but the bugs come and we think they are no good . Anyone with idea on a natural pesticide that will repel these pests ?
Pio M. Sian, M.D. | Jul 17, 2009 | Reply
A few comments
1. The yellowing disease a: very deadly pest of coconuts is a virus infection called Kadang-kadang. The multicolored beetle
a little bigger than a grain of rice is just as destructive but can be controlled by insecticide.Other problems are controlled by
proper farming techniques.
2. Tender coconuts are buko or immature or young fruits,the color of the husk is green heavy and easily cut with a machete.The meat is thin and soft, can be scooped by a spoon.
Mature coconuts have hard, brown husk,light,they float.carried by ocean currents and grow on beaches where they land.. The meat is tough, and oily.The shell 4-5mm thick under the husk is very hard. .when partially burned the charcoal is ground up into filtering material for water and gas masks.
3.It is called “TREE OF LIFE” By the Filipinos because of the utilitarian nature of just about every part of it. If you get marrooned in a deserted island with nothing but a few coconuts,
you will know what it means.
Yeshwanthrao | Jul 22, 2009 | Reply
Tender Coconut contains only very sweet tasty water not fully grown.
Coconut – Fully grown and has nuts with little water.
arlene | Aug 4, 2009 | Reply
Hi! there is this ball of a white crunchy meat that we sometimes find when we open a coconut and i love eating it. what is it?
jhenz | Aug 18, 2009 | Reply
hello arlene,
yes, i also love eating them! according to what i’ve researched, they’re commonly called coconut “apple” or “pearl” and they’re usually found in very mature coconut fruit.
Sometimes you might find a mature nut beginning to sprout. There will be little or no liquid in the nut and the flesh might not be edible, but the large mushroom-like haustorium or coconut \’apple\’ is edible. It can be eaten raw and is considered a delicacy. It is light and crisp in texture with a tangy almost sweet taste. It can also be sliced and sauteed lightly in organic coconut oil.
scientifically, they’re termed as “haustorium”. you can check the info under the subtitle ‘Types of Palm Seed Germination’ in this link: http://www.palmseeds.kansaspalms.com/
you can also verify the image here: http://www.pearls.com/news2/pp21/images/cocopr3b.jpg
hope it helps!
karen mae | Aug 31, 2009 | Reply
i think the answer of coconut tree is correct
lyka | Sep 9, 2009 | Reply
this is a great uses so i have 100% in my project!
kenny | Sep 12, 2009 | Reply
There is quite a difference between the tender coconut and the mature coconut. For one, the texture of the tender coconut is very soft, less fibrous, and easy on the palate and the stomach, and the coconut water makes an excellent and refreshing drink. The mature coconut on the hand is comparatively hard, fibrous, has more oil content and is used mostly in curries, and sweetmeats of Kerala.
The husk is the fibrous outer covering of the coconut, between 5 to 10 centimeters thick; which covers a hard shell, about 3 to 4 millimeters thick on which the pulp of the coconut is attached.
banny | Oct 2, 2009 | Reply
thanks! dis website helped me to have my discussion in school tomorrow.
Mary | Nov 13, 2009 | Reply
is the coconut a fruit or a nut? if someone is allergic to nuts can they eat coconuts?
jhenz | Nov 17, 2009 | Reply
Anyone heard about this song?… You can probably check it in Youtube if it’s available…
Song Title: Da Coconut Nut
Lyrics: Ryan Cayabyab
Artist: Smokey Mountain
The coconut nut is a giant nut
If you eat too much, you’ll get very fat
Now, the coconut nut is a big, big nut
But its delicious nut is not a nut
It’s the coco fruit (it’s the coco fruit)
Of the coco tree (of the coco tree)
From the coco palm family
There are so many uses of the coconut tree
You can build a big house for the family
All you need is to find a coconut man
If he catch the tree, he gets the fruit free
The coconut bark for the kitchen floor
If you save some of it, you can build the door
Now, the coconut trunk, do not throw this junk
If you save some of it, you’ll have a second floor
The coconut wood is very good
It can stand 20 years if you create (?) wood
Now, the coconut fruit, to tell you the truth
You can probe it or use it as firewood
The coconut leaves could shade it gives
For the roof, for the walls up against the eaves
Now, the coconut fruit, say my relatives
Make good cannonballs up against the eaves
Olé!
jhenz | Nov 17, 2009 | Reply
@ karen mae, lyka and banny: thank you very much guys! good to hear this article has helped you.
@kenny: thank you very much for that information!
@Mary: hmm… your question really intrigued me to the peak!
in fact, i never though to question the “gender” of coconut until now. anyways, 4 out of 5 said that COCONUT IS A FRUIT.
1. Technically speaking, botanists classify the coconut as a drupe, not a nut. A drupe is a kind of fruit composed of an outer, middle and inner layer.
2. The coconut is also a drupe, but the mesocarp is fibrous or dry (in this case, called a husk), so this type of fruit is classified as a simple dry fruit, fibrous drupe. Unlike other drupes, the coconut seed is unlikely to be dispersed by being swallowed by fauna, due to its large size. It can, however, float extremely long distances across oceans.
3. Now, when I read the information in another record I find that the whole coconut including the outer coir fiber coating is a “fruit”. The coir fiber (which is removed where the coconuts grow before being shipped to our shops) is the ovary wall.
4. Although the name suggests that a coconut is a nut, it is in fact botanically classified as a fruit. Specifically, a coconut is a drupe, a kind of fruit which is characterized by a fleshy outer layer and the fact that it develops from the ovary wall of a flower. Some other examples of drupes include nectarines, pistachios, almonds, and mangoes. The evolutionary advantage for drupes is that their fleshy outer layers attract animals, ensuring that they will be widely distributed along with a little natural fertilizer in the form of animal dung. In fact, some drupes are specifically designed to go through the intestinal tracts of animals.
I really enjoyed the searches. It just confirmed what I learned a long time ago (way back as a child) that indeed, coconut is a fruit.
Thank you Mary for that interesting question!
P.S. Am sorry I wasn’t able to indicate the source sites. I’m having a hard time with this form. Always getting an error. It seem that there’s a conflict with the URLs.
lagordo wharren | Nov 24, 2009 | Reply
why coconut is like ahuman but caanot move and the lord is have abig idea for htis reason
patrick | Jan 6, 2010 | Reply
tnx 4 dis website..i can easily finish my research paper bcoz of dis..
chessmaker | Jan 6, 2010 | Reply
who do you tap a coconut tree?… is it like a maple tree tap by where you insert a metal tap and it drips into a bucket that is hung off the tree
A.A.2697 | Jan 13, 2010 | Reply
Greet info i think it called the tree of life ’cause we use every part of it for our needs? just guessing but this info got me an A+
nila | Feb 24, 2010 | Reply
I like eating,drinking a coconut
omy | Mar 6, 2010 | Reply
hello, if anyone of you wants to know more about coconut, you may inquire in Philippine Coconut Research & Development Foundation, Inc. (PCRDF), it’s a private institution… and be amazed of their embryo-cultured makapuno.
+63 2 633 8031
+63 2 632 9053
info@pcrdf.org
Janet Robb | Mar 15, 2010 | Reply
I bought a painted coconut in Key West recently. When I got home, it was leaking a little juice —- do I need to drill a hole for the liquid to drain out? will it rot if I don’t? or just leave it alone and nature will dry itself?
TS Coco | Apr 8, 2010 | Reply
can someone help me find out the ongoing price to sell a sack of copra or is it by pound? thank you.
ssssssssssssssss | Apr 13, 2010 | Reply
i hate this, it is of no use
rebekah | Apr 27, 2010 | Reply
how big is a coconut tree
omy | Jun 18, 2010 | Reply
@ TS coco: in the Philippines, the on-going price on copra ranges from Php 2,400 to Php 2,550 per 100 kilos (as of june 2010).
Joshi Thomas | Aug 19, 2010 | Reply
hi alllllll
I am can answer you questions regarding coconut trees.
I live in Kerala, India, the land of coconuts. The word “kera” means coconut, from which the name Kerala was derived.
NjOy
chris | Aug 30, 2010 | Reply
i just read all the comments on the phone to my friend she found them interesting and helpful in her life. coconut are great.