coconut palm
Cocus nucifera, an economically valuable tree found on many tropical
coasts. It has a long, leaning trunk crowned by a cluster of large fronds,
and grows to a height of about 30.5 meters (100 ft). The fruits, coconuts,
take one year to develop and a single palm normally produces up to 100 nuts
in one year. Each nut is surrounded by a thick fibrous husk and contains
a white kernel surrounding the "coconut milk." The kernel is dried to produce
copra, which is the source of coconut
oil, a vegetable oil much used in the United States and Europe in detergents,
edible oils, margarine, brake fluid, etc. The fibers of the husk are used
for mats and ropes.
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