By
Tom Hoese
The
coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is probably one of the most easily
recognized 
trees
throughout the world.They are found
in almost every tropic region on earth.The
average height of the tree is between 60 and 80 feet with leaves having
a length of up to 15 feet.An average
coconut palm will not flower until its seventh year, but when it reaches
this age, it will produce 50-100 coconuts annually.
One
of the coconut palms greatest characteristics is its versatility � every
part of
the
tree can be used in some way.The
palms can be used for shade, thatching, and weaving, the trunk can be used
as lumber and the roots can even be used as medicine, but the
coconut, by far, has the greatest number of uses.It
is mainly used to make coconut or palm oil.The
oil � which has some health benefits - is obtained from the dried endosperm
or �copra� (the white part in the coconut below).This
copra can also be 
dried
and then grated for use in many deserts (you�ve probably eaten dried copra
in a mounds bar).Native people to
the tropics sometimes eat the copra raw or turn it into milk or cream by
adding water to it.Coconuts can
also be turned into bowls and drums.
Figure 1
A common bowl made by natives in Hawaii.
Links:
A
couple of recipes:
E-mail
me at mailto:thomas_hoese@hotmail.com