The origin of the coconut tree

Did you know that the name of the coconut comes from “coco” which means monkey face or “grin” and it was how the Spanish explorers first called it? The scientific name for coconut is Cocos nucifera. The coconut is a plant which favorably grows on the shorelines, it prospers on sandy soils. It prefers rainy and sunny weather, it can’t resist low temperatures. For a propitious growth coconuts also require an area of high humidity.

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On many islands coconut is a staple in the diet and provides the majority of the food eaten. Nearly one third of the world's population depends on coconut to some degree for their food and their economy. Among these cultures the coconut has a long and respected history.