Palms and at the present time many people are fed,drink and dress. And the most useful of them is the coconut tree. Today it is on the first positions in the list of the most important trees in the world. The coconut palm grows in the hot tropics and is their symbol. Her homeland is the Malaysian archipelago.
There is this palm tree on various islands,shores of the seas and oceans. It is distinguished by a high trunk (about 30 meters), which, as a rule, is inclined toward the sea. The groves of coconut trees are occupied by almost all the islands located in the Pacific Ocean.
Salty water, these plants are not afraid.On the contrary, for the normal growth of this palm tree it takes about 1.5 kg of salt a year. The coconut palm grows at the age of 7 to 12 years. The appearance of its inflorescences resembles a panicle, and their height reaches at times two meters. The fruits of this palm - coconuts - mature for a long time, for a whole year.
On top of such a nut is covered with a hard skin, andfrom the inside it is lined with a layer of fibers. In the unripe nut is about 0.5 liters of sweet and sour, transparent liquid, which is rich in vitamins and sugar. This is an excellent drink in sultry weather. As the fruit ripens, this liquid turns from transparent to white, which is why it is called "coconut milk". Then it gradually becomes pulp. This process is called changing the endosperm of coconut.
The seed is contained in a bone with three holes,which is very hard. Only one of these holes is intended for the germination of the embryo, the rest simply overgrow. The weight of a mature nut is from one to two kilograms. After ripening, they fall into the water and rush with the flow. After swimming in the sea for more than 100 days, coconuts can germinate even in water.
Worldwide, the coconut palm has settled withouthuman assistance. It is quite deserved and justified in the tropics, it is called the "tree of life". So, from the dried pre-endosperm (copra), the oil is squeezed out, and the cake is given to feed the cattle. A strong and elastic fiber is used for weaving ropes, making brushes and mats.
Excellent decorations, buttons and dishes are obtainedof solid ossicles. From the inflorescences extracted sweet juice, which is subsequently processed into sugar, alcohol, wine. Wood serves as a solid material for the construction of housing, the roof of which is covered with leaves of the same palm trees. For these houses, the coconut tree gives fuel and furniture.
Palms today are considered the bestrepresentatives of ornamental plants grown at home. They are very popular for interior decoration of housing. These guests from the tropical belt bring a piece of exotic countries to the house.
But this is their belonging to the exotictropics and must be taken into account when decorating a particular room. So, home palms like high humidity and plenty of sun. Therefore, they should be located only in spacious rooms with large windows, in which there is a lot of sunlight.
If this rule is followed, the foliageplants will be able to please with its good growth and decorative. But it is very important to remember that these palms absolutely can not stand drafts. And on the cold window sills or on the marble floor, they do not get accustomed: their roots are very sensitive to cold, so they must always be warm.
It should be noted that not all ornamental palmslove direct sunlight. Many are quite enough scattered light, falling through the translucent curtains. Watering should be, as a rule, abundant, and in winter - moderate. In any case, the land should not be too wet, but only wet. And that the palm trees respond with rich bright foliage, do not forget about frequent and regular spraying.
