The origin of Coconut

Abstract

The paper discusses the views on the origin of coconut, Cocos nucifera L. and its near related genera and species. It has been pointed out that besides the view that it is American in origin, and the second view that it is Indo-Malayan in origin, a third view that it may have been of Indo-African in origin is discussed in the light of the various genera related to the genus Cocos. The characteristic differences between the fruits of Cocos nucifera, and small fruited American species are pointed out. Whereas in C. nucifera the fruit has highly fibrous-pericarp, the small fruited species like C. coronate, C. schizophylla etc. are full of mucilage and have no fibres. The germination of the two types of Cocos species is also different. It is 'Admotive' in C. nucifera and 'Remotive' in small seeded species. The author is inclined to accept the third view that it arose on some islands in Indian archipelago, Ceylon, Nicobar or some extinct islands in the Indian Ocean near the coast of East Africa.