KAMAL A. MALIK

Solitary palm, stem often curved. Leaves very long, green, pinnatisect. Leaflets narrow, apices long acuminate; petiole smooth. Inflorescence from the axil of the leaf with short prophyll and with boat-shaped woody coriaceous peduncular bract. Inflorescence 60-90 cm long, yellowish. Bracts 45-90 cm long, opening longitudinally at the time of flowering; prophyll much shorter than the large boat-shaped bract. Flowers in triads at base of rachillae, paired or solitary near tip. Male with short stalks; female in triads with 2 males, few at spike base. Stamens 6, free; ovary 3-celled, surrounded by low cupular staminodium. Fruit one seeded nut, trigonous, endocarp hard with three basal pores, endosperm oily, edible.

A monotypic genus of uncertain origin, widely cultivated especially in the coastal regions of the tropics including Pakistan.

Lower Taxon

• Cocos nucifera L.