The Coconut and the Need to Categorize Everything
There are many reasons as to why humans tend to put everything into a category or label. Doing so helps organize and create efficiency. It helps with memorizing what items can be used for or what things can be dangerous as well. This is something that humans have been doing for hundred if not thousands of years to help us understand and interact better with the world around us. Yet, much like the diversity of nature and human beings themselves, there comes along something that does not always conform to our rational way of thinking. The Coconut, much like human beings, can fall into different categories of classification.
Here the Coconut has the 2 outer layers
The Fruit
To many's surprise, the Coconut is actually a fruit, under the drupe family. This actually puts it in the same category as a peach or an olive. Who would have thunk? Well, since a drupe has a hard stony covering protecting the seed, much like an Apricot, this makes the Coconut one big drupe. Drupes have 3 layers: the outer layer, the middle fleshy layer and the hard wood-like layer protecting the seed. The Coconut in the image above like the ones found at the store have already had the outer layer and middle layer removed, leaving only what is called the endocarp, or woody layer which covers the seed.
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Here you see the plant growing out of the seed
The Seed
Some scientist categorize the Coconut as a seed. Since a seed has an embryonic plant inside much like a Coconut, then it can be considered one big seed. Much like a seed with food to feed the embryonic plant, so too the Coconut has inside a fleshy white substance called the endosperm. The embryonic plant will shoot out through one of those dark circles or pores while its root will feed on the endosperm. The white fleshy endosperm is what people love to eat sometimes dry, or with lemon and chili or on certain pastries and deserts.
and The Nut
And yet the Coconut can also be loosely categorized as a nut. Nuts are classified as a one-seeded fruit, therefore Coconuts can be called a nut although they don't truly fall under that category. True nuts have to be digested by an animal or the wall of the seed has to decay in order to germinate. Coconuts left on the ground alone will germinate without this process, thereby not a true nut, although confusedly, the word 'nut' is found in the name 'Coconut.'
The Coconut should serve to remind us that not everything fits neatly and in order in our lives. Life is diverse and comes in all different shapes, forms, styles, sizes, colors and so on. In the end, it does not matter what the Coconut is as long as it is good. Hint! Hint!
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Love it! And a great metaphor to end with :)
Glad you got that @natashahall
full steem ahead!
That's is one Big Nut 🥜 there
I wonder if they ever fall and hit people on the head? Thanks for the support @paul-gillbanks
full steem ahead!
The green ones can sometimes be fatal, they are the heaviest.
People have really died from one falling on their head?
Yes! Its rare these days, but often times head injuries are often times fatal. They've done a pretty good job of trimming the fruits or cutting off the part of the tree that allows the production of fruit.
If I am ever in those parts of the world, I will be sure to keep my eye out for them.
Coconuts fall on people all the time. They cause a nice bruise.
The last time I was in Hawaii, I stayed at a VRBO (http://www.vrbo.com). There was a sign posted in front of almost every coconut tree that warned of the dangers of coconuts falling.
I feel prevents Darwin from doing his work. :-)
Ah man!! Got to give this a 100% upvote and GoCoconuts! Lovely read! You've got a new follower 😀
Have a great day and remember... Always GoCoconuts😉
haha i like your title very smart post
i just enjoyed reading this :)
Thank you @crastty32 Glad you liked it. Thank you for the support!
you sure deserve it with your posts :)
Great!
I'm Indian, so coconuts are used very commonly for various reasons!
Curries, desserts, smoothies. etc.
The coconut oil is amazing too and has many medicinal properties!
The coconut husk (the middle wiry portion) is also used for doormats, mattresses, I'm sure there are other uses as well.
I like your post!
:)
Upvoted!
yes yes @taraamin77 The tree is known as "The Tree of Life" for this very reason.
full steem ahead!
Good, I want some!
I do too @hebro Maybe later, I do love coconut especially when dry and in shaving baked into pastries.
You put the lime in the coconut.
Con limon @chupacabro and some tajin
It's all of the above ! A true miracle !
The shape of the coconut as small as snails
I vote for fruit! No way to nuts!
haha i like your title very smart post
thanks @mahmoudh
full steem ahead!
Please follow me i will follow you.