A coconut is all of these: a seed, a fruit and a nut. Coconut is a seed because it is the reproductive part of the tree, coconut is a fruit because it is a fibrous one-seeded drupe and coconut is a nut because a loose definition of a nut is nothing but a one-seeded ‘fruit’.
Coconut is usually thought of as a fruit because it grows on trees and tastes sweet. However, coconut is botanically classified as a fibrous one-seeded drupe.
A drupe is a fruit with a hard stony cover enclosing the seed (like a plum or olive). A coconut, and all drupes, have 3 layers: the exocarp (outer layer), the mesocarp (fleshy middle layer), and the endocarp (hard, woody layer that surrounds the seed). The convenient ready-to-drink coconut usually found at stores is far different from the coconut growing at the farm. The original - or the untouched - coconut on the tree has all 3 layers: the exocarp - typically smooth with green or brown color, the mesocarp - normally called the husk, and the hard woody endocarp. The convenient coconut at stores is actually the endocarp surrounding the seed while the exocarp and mesocarp are removed.
A seed is the reproductive unit of a flowering plant with a “baby” plant inside which has 2 basic parts: the embryo root (hypocotyl) and the embryo leaves (epicotyl). Take a closer look at one end of the coconut, you will see 3 pores (also called eyes). When the baby plant inside the hard shell germinates, a shoot emerges from the softest pores. In addition to the “baby” plant inside the coconut seed, there is the food to kick off its life called the endosperm, or the yummy white flesh/copra.
A nut is a one-seeded fruit. With such loose definition, a coconut can also be a nut. However, a coconut is not a true nut. A true nut does not open at maturity to release its seeds. The seeds are only released when the fruit wall decays or is digested by an animal.
Once and for all, a coconut can be a nut, a seed and a fruit, all at the same time. Now it’s time to grab a Hamona premium coconut, plug in and enjoy as a delicious, healthy reward.
