A widespread, tropical, monoecious palm and one of the most economically important palms. Coconuts tolerate salty, sandy soils and thrive in the lowland tropics, usually but not necessarily, on the seacoast. They grow well in southern Florida and Hawaii where they are planted for ornamental and home use. The plant is grown only from seeds and transplanted once (or more) before being set in a permanent place. The plant produces fruit from the 6th year onward until the tree is about 80 years old. A well maintained tree should grow to 80 feet tall and yield over 75 nuts a year. Note the leaf of this plant. It is an example of one of the most prominent leaf types in the tropics-the palmiform leaf- a large leaf with many lateral leaflets.

All parts of coconut plant are useful. The white, fleshy part of the nut is edible and the cavity is filled with "coconut milk" containing sugars. Toddy is an English name for the fresh beverge obtained from the sap, which is derived from incising the flower clusters of coconut. In the Philippines it is known as "Tuba". Coir is the fiber from the husk of the nut, used in ropes, mats, brushes, calking boats and as stuffing fiber. Copra is the edible dried meat or hard endospem of the fruit. Oil expressed from the dried endosperm can be used in soap production or as cooking oil. The trunks provide building timbers, the leaves provide materials for thatch and the husk and shells can be used for fuel.