The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the palm tree family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus Cocos. The term “coconut” (or the archaic “cocoanut”) can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which botanically is a drupe, not a nut. The name comes from the old Portuguese word coco, meaning “head” or “skull”, after the three indentations on the coconut shell that resemble facial features. They are ubiquitous in coastal tropical regions and are a cultural icon of the tropics.
It is one of the most useful trees in the world and is often referred to as the “tree of life”. It provides food, fuel, cosmetics, folk medicine and building materials, among many other uses. The inner flesh of the mature seed, as well as the coconut milk extracted from it, form a regular part of the diets of many people in the tropics and subtropics. Coconuts are distinct from other fruits because their endosperm contains a large quantity of clear liquid, called coconut water or coconut juice. Mature, ripe coconuts can be used as edible seeds, or processed for oil and plant milk from the flesh, charcoal from the hard shell, and coir from the fibrous husk. Dried coconut flesh is called copra, and the oil and milk derived from it are commonly used in cooking – frying in particular – as well as in soaps and cosmetics. Sweet coconut sap can be made into drinks or fermented into palm wine or coconut vinegar. The hard shells, fibrous husks and long pinnate leaves can be used as material to make a variety of products for furnishing and decoration.
The coconut has cultural and religious significance in certain societies, particularly in the Western Pacific Austronesian cultures where it features in the mythologies, songs, and oral traditions. It also had ceremonial importance in pre-colonial animistic religions. It has also acquired religious significance in South Asian cultures, where it is used in Hindu rituals. It forms the basis of wedding and worship rituals in Hinduism. It also plays a central role in the Coconut Religion of Vietnam. The falling nature of their mature fruit has led to preoccupation with death by coconut.
Coconuts were first domesticated by the Austronesian peoples in Island Southeast Asia and were spread during the Neolithic via their seaborne migrations as far east as the Pacific Islands, and as far west as Madagascar and the Comoros. They played a critical role in the long sea voyages of Austronesians by providing a portable source of food and water, as well as providing building materials for Austronesian outrigger boats. Coconuts were also later spread in historic times along the coasts of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans by South Asian, Arab, and European sailors. Coconut populations today can still be divided into two based on these separate introductions – the Pacific coconuts and Indo-Atlantic coconuts, respectively. Coconuts were introduced by Europeans to the Americas only during the colonial era in the Columbian exchange, but there is evidence of a possible pre-Columbian introduction of Pacific coconuts to Panama by Austronesian sailors. The evolutionary origin of the coconut is under dispute, with theories stating that it may have evolved in Asia, South America, or on Pacific islands. Trees grow up to 30 m (100 ft) tall and can yield up to 75 fruits per year, though fewer than 30 is more typical. Plants are intolerant of cold weather and prefer copious precipitation, as well as full sunlight. Many insect pests and diseases affect the species and are a nuisance for commercial production. About 75% of the world’s supply of coconuts is produced by Indonesia, the Philippines, and India combined.
Username: Bongsong Published on 2024-10-07 03:06:44 ID NUMBER: 122412
Natural lakes are relatively large bodies of freshwater surrounded by land. For the purposes of the Conservation Strategy, natural lakes are defined as standing water bodies larger than 20 acres, including some seasonal lakes.
An alarm device is a mechanism that gives an audible, visual, combination, or other kind of alarm signal to alert someone to a problem or condition that requires urgent attention.
An alarm clock or alarm is a clock that is designed to alert an individual or group of people at a specified time. The primary function of these clocks is to awaken people from their night's sleep or short naps; they can sometimes be used for other reminders as well. Most alarm clocks make sounds; some make light or vibration. Some have sensors to identify when a person is in a light stage of sleep, in order to avoid waking someone who is deeply asleep, which causes tiredness, even if the person has had adequate sleep. To turn off the sound or light, a button or handle on the clock is pressed; most clocks automatically turn off the alarm if left unattended long enough. A classic analog alarm clock has an extra hand or inset dial that is used to show the time at which the alarm will ring. Alarm clock functions are also used in mobile phones, watches, and computers.
The red PLUTTIS wall clock will be an eye-catching statement in any home. Besides being a colourful decoration on the wall, of course it helps you to always keep track of time.
PLUTTIS wall clock has a classic and simple design that will look good in any home. Besides being a nice decoration on the wall, of course it helps you to always keep track of time.
The joy of foraging -
Offering an escape from industrial foods, foraging nourishes the soul and body, but it needs democratic access to the landNikita Sud
Clock time contra lived time - Henri Bergson and Albert Einstein fundamentally disagreed about the nature of time and how it can be measured. Who was right?Evan Thompson
Perception of truth starts like a burning matchstick in a windy night.
The apprentice lights it in a most careful way, and the match goes out. The apprentice lights another match and the wind blows it out. The student goes on trying until he sees the box of matches is empty. By this time, due to an apparent coincidence, a lighted lamp emerges out of nothing, ready to be used by the pilgrim.
The lamp then enlightens uncomfortable things. “Should I put the light out?”, the student questions himself, and yet he perseveres. The light gets stronger: it shows beautiful, higher things and ugly aspects of life as well.
As the pilgrim learns to bear truth, he suspects he is surrounded by blind men. He is tempted to make believe he is blind, too, so that he can remain in touch with the consensually established delusions. He is afraid of the solitude if he follows truth. Yet he is losing his ability to support established collective falsehoods. As he stops struggling against the feeling of solitude, he sees other people in the same situation. Mutual help starts: the light of one adds to the light of another.
The awakening gets deeper and the challenges are not small. He sees that the key to victory lies in keeping the central focus of consciousness on the ideal of right action. Secondarily he examines with rigor and severity anything that is not correct. When the pilgrim finally notices his lamp is running out of fuel, he looks to the East and, below the radiance of Venus, the morning star, he sees the unlimited light of a new day is arriving in time.
