Palm tree, Coconut tree & The Coconut Fruit

Palm tree, Coconut tree & The coconut fruit

Regardless of the travel experience, it is safe to say that nearly everyone knows what a palm tree looks like because of the prevalence of the tree in pop culture. However, a common misunderstanding is that all palm trees are coconut trees. Even though a coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is a species of the palm tree family (Arecaceae), there is a great variety of palm trees not bearing coconuts.

So in short: A coconut tree is a type of palm tree, but not all palm trees are coconut trees.

Although there is only one species of palm tree that can bear coconuts (Cocos nucifera), there is a large variety of different coconuts. These varieties can be divided into two main types:

1. Tall: Up to 30 meters (98 ft)
2. Dwarf: Up to 6-18 meters (20-60 ft)

One tree yields up to around 75 coconuts per year, if well maintained.

Coconut palms in the Maldives

The five main varieties of coconut palm commonly found in the Maldives include:

1. Nulu ruh: Tall palm bearing a green-colored coconut
2. Kuhi ruh: Tall palm bearing both green and red-colored coconuts
3. Rathu ruh: Tall palm bearing red-colored coconuts
4. Jaafaanu ruh: Short palm bearing a green-colored coconut
5. Danbu ruh: Short palm bearing a red-colored coconut

Distribution: 

The coconut palm is the most widely grown palm tree in the world, commonly found across Africa, South America and Asia. Coconut palms need the humidity and moisture of a tropical or subtropical environment to survive and thrive. Due to the year-round warm weather of the Maldives, the coconut palm is cultivated on a large scale in the country.

They’re strong, their roots extend deep into the soil and can live up to 100 years in the wild. It is known as a ‘three-generation-tree’ as it provides coconuts to the people who plant it (bearing fruit within 6 to 10 years), their children and grandchildren.

Hold on a minute. Fruit?

A coconut is not a nut. We could elaborate, but we won’t.
The Coconut Song does a better job than a paragraph of text. Enjoy!