Coconut Palm

Scientific name: Cocos nucifera

POWO Status: Tree

IUCN Red List threat level: Not Evaluated

GPs Location: 17° 42′ 59.36″ N, 64° 49′ 48.28″ W

Phenological Markers – Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera)

Scientific Name: Cocos nucifera
Common Names: Coconut Palm
Family: Arecaceae

New Leaf Emergence: Continuous throughout the year in mature trees. New fronds emerge from the terminal bud at a rate of roughly one per month under optimal conditions.
Leaf Senescence: Older fronds yellow and die regularly, typically lower leaves; dead fronds often remain hanging unless pruned.
Seasonality: Minimal seasonal effect in tropical climates; leaf production is primarily driven by moisture availability and nutrient status.

Inflorescence Type: Branched spadix with both male and female flowers (monoecious); flowers emerge from axils of leaf bases.
Flower Emergence: Continuous flowering, typically monthly cycles; male flowers appear first, followed by female flowers.
Pollination Window: Primarily wind-pollinated, though insects (especially bees) assist in some regions.
Seasonality: Flowering is year-round in tropical, equatorial climates, with occasional seasonal peaks during warm, wet periods.

Fruit Type: Fibrous drupe (commonly referred to as a “coconut”).
Fruit Development: Takes 11–13 months from pollination to full maturity; immature green coconuts are harvested for water at ~6 months.
Ripening Indicators: Browning of outer husk, natural fall of coconuts; inner shell hardens as fruit matures.
Seasonality: Staggered fruiting due to continuous flowering; individual trees may bear fruit year-round, with higher yield during rainy seasons.

Growth Habit: Tall, single-trunked palm reaching up to 30 m, with a crown of large pinnate leaves.
Phenology Triggers: Environmental conditions (especially rainfall and nutrient availability) strongly affect flowering and fruiting intensity.
Observation Tips: Track inflorescence initiation monthly; note maturity stages of coconuts for seasonal yield mapping. Frond replacement rate is also a good indicator of tree vigor.