Cocos
(from coco, the Portuguese for monkey; in reference to the end of the nut being like a monkey's head). Cocoa-nut Tree. ORD. Palmoe. A genus of elegant stove Palms, which, in their native countries, grow into majestic proportions. They are unarmed trees, with smooth, ringed trunks, and pinnatisect leaves, with linear segments. Spadices appearing in the axils of the lower leaves. Drupes with a fibrous husk and a solitary seed, with three holes at the base. They thrive in a compost of two parts rich loam, one part peat, and one of sand. During the growing period, copious supplies of water must be given, the quantity of which should be gradually diminished as winter approaches. They are not so well suited for sub-tropical gardening as many other genera of Palms; but, in a well-drained and sheltered spot, it is probable several of the species might prove satisfactory.
C. australis (Southern). l. pinnate, with very numerous linearglaucous pinnae. Stem erect, columnar, in old specimens 20ft. to 30ft. high. Buenos Ayres and Paraguay. A slow-growing, decidedly ornamental Palm.
C. nucifera (nut-bearing). Cocoa-nut Palm. l. pinnate, 6ft. to 20ft. in length; pinnae long, somewhat narrow and pendent, bright glossy green. h. 50ft. East Indies, 1690. A very common species in tropical countries, but somewhat difficult to cultivate in this country. (J. B. 1879, 202.)
C. plumosa (feathery).* l. pinnate, 3ft. to 15ft. in length; pinnae clustered together in bunches, 1ft. to 2ft. in length, about 1in. in breadth, somewhat obtusely pointed, dark green above, glaucous below. Stem stout, straight, columnar. h. 40ft. to 50ft. Brazil, 1825. A highly ornamental tree, with long leaves and drooping bunches of waxy flowers, which are succeeded by quantities of orange-coloured nuts, enclosed in an edible pulp, about as large as an English acorn. (B. M. 5180.)
C. Romanzoffiana (Romanzoff's).* l. long, gracefully arched; pinnae long, pendent, dark green. Brazil. A handsome decorative species. C. schizophylla (cut-leaved).* l. pinnate, spreading, dark green, gracefully arched, 6ft. or more in height; pinnae 2ft. long, 1in broad; apical lobe 6in. to 8in. broad, deeply bifid; petioles bordered with red; edges armed with stout red spines. h. 8ft. Brazil, 1846.
C. Weddeliana (Weddel's).* l. 1ft. to 4ft. or more in length, gracefully arched; pinnae disposed nearly the whole length of the petioles, long, narrow, pendent, dark green on the upper surface, glaucous beneath. Stem slender, clothed with a quantity of black netted fibres. South America. This is probably the most elegant small palm ever introduced into Europe, and one that should be in every collection of stove plants. SYNS. Leopoldinia pulchra and Glaziova elegantissima. for which we are indebted to Mr. William Bull.
There are many other species of this genus, among which are: capitata, comosa, coronata, flexuosa, lapidea, and oleracea.