I don't even want to begin to tell you the amount of things that can be done with a coconut tree, or it's parts! But here is a short listing to appease the people that took the time to come to this web page! The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is a type of palm tree and produces edible fruit. The fruits called nuts, have a white meat in the mature nut called copra. Copra is what is used to make coconut oil. The husk can be used for a mosquito repellent, and to make rope. The coconut shell can be used for utensils, bowls, bras ;), cups, and many other neat implements. That is just the fruit. Then we go onto the branch. The branch, is made up of a great rib which can be used for fire tongs, and other things. Individual leaflets can be made into toys, the midribs that are between each leaflet, can be collected in a quanity and put in a bundle and used as a broom. A section of the frond can be used to make a split rib carrier, and fans. A section of the side of the frond can be made into MANY different types of baskets, hats, mats, thatching, and other things just to name a few. Anyways there are two types of coconut trees. Three year coconut trees, are trees that bear fruit in approximately three years. Then there is the six year coconut tree, which produces fruit in about six years. You can easily distinguish between the two, as the three year coconut tree does not have a bulb at the base of the trunk, which is characteristic of the six year coconut tree. The three year coconut trees leaves are more uniform in shape, being as slender at the base of the leaf, up to about four to five inches from the tapering tip. The six year coconut tree however has a more larger leaf at the bottom, and tapers slightly through the leaf up until the tip. Now on the the different varieties in the six year, and three year trees. There are two colors of coconuts. There is the green variety and then there is the red/orange type. Now on Guam there are about seven different types of coconut trees. I don't have the listing right now, but I will research it, and anyone that is interested (who would be ? :) ) just email me and i'll get the info too you as soon as I get it.
