Spicata Coconuts in the Palmetum

Here is the background to the spicata dwarfs in the Townsville Palmetum. By Mike Foal - www.cocosplit.com

In my role as an agronomist located in the Russell Island group of Solomon Islands to work in the Joint Coconut Research Scheme (JCRS) funded equally by the Solomons colonial government and Unilever I visited the Polynesian island of Rennell (200 km south of Guadalcanal) by small government vessel in September 1964. While purchasing seed-nuts of the indigenous Rennell Tall population (for a variety trial and despatch to other research centres around the world) from village groves scattered on Rennell, I noticed a "village dwarf" (delicate dwarf palm with orange fruit) that had the "Spicata" character. Each inflorescence of such palms comprises a single branchless stalk in contrast of the normal inflorescence that might have 12 or more branches connected to the main stem. The Spicata inflorescence has many female flowers extending from the base almost to the end of the stalk and a small number of male flowers at the end.

At that time we had begun generating hybrids at the JCRS and were interested in the fact that a Spicata inflorescence produces very little pollen. We could see that an inflorescence with 12 branches would bear at least 12 times more pollen that a Spicata inflorescence. A low pollen producer would be far more likely to outcross and so a high proportion of seeds from a Spicata palm surrounded by non-Spicata would be natural hybrids, whereas non-Spicata dwarf palms, being mostly self-pollinating, would require expensive male flower removal to force hybridisation.

So we collected some seed-nuts from this palm and planted a group of them on the research station. Since that time we realised that the Spicata gene, a mutant that appears rarely but is known in some other countries, is actually a dominant gene, so that any progeny will display the trait even when hybridised with a non-Spicata palm.

Seed-nuts of Spicata orange dwarf were imported from the JCRS (Solomons) palms by the Townsville City Council in 1998 and established in the Palmetum. Several of the palms from these seeds are true Spicata dwarf and some are evidently hybrids as the dwarf character is modified and the orange colour (a recessive gene) is not expressed.

It seems to me that the attractive fruit colour, the delicate dwarf from, and the unusual inflorescence stalk make the Spicata dwarf an ideal ornamental palm.

Mike Foale has written a comprehensive book on coconuts “The Coconut Odyssey: the bounteous possibilities of the tree of life”. Purchase it, or download it for free here: http://www.aciar.gov.au/publication/MN101

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil - Food for Life

Cactus Island Nursery has partnered up with Nature Pacific to bring you the very best in Coconut Oil Products: Banaban Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. Coconut Body Butters, Coconut Cooking Oil, Coconut Massage Oil, Coconut Oil products for your Pets, even Coconut Jig Jig Oil! For a look at all Nature Pacific's great products, just click on the banner below.

Coconuts aren't called the 'Tree of Life' for no reason; their nutritional and health benefits are endless. Not only has coconut oil anit-microbial and anti-viral properties, it is also packed full off medium chain fatty acids, which actually help you lose weight! A statement from Paul Richardson, the inventor of Cocotap "I have to live in the tropics, after years of coconut oil consumption I now have no blubber left".... Medium chain fatty acids speed up your body's metabolism, helping you burn calories. Coconut oil contains a unique form of saturated fat, which improves digestion, strenghtens your immune systems, and protects you against infections.

Look for the proper, unrefined coconut oil, such as the Banaban Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. Do not use the the hydrogenated oils. Hydrogenated oil can actually raise cholesterol levels.

As stated by the Nature Pacific website:

Premium Virgin Oil is extracted from fresh organically grown Fiji coconuts with the least amount of processing so that the natural vitamin E, antioxidants and fresh coconut "essence" are retained.

Nutritional Benefits
* Easy digestibility and absorbable
* Contains Vitamin E
* Composed mainly of short and medium chain fatty acids which have desirable qualities and functions
* Does not contain cholesterol
* Reduced fat accumulation in body
* Easily oxidized and therefore a preferred energy source
* Requires no transport system to absorb, digest and metabolize
* Very low content of Omega 6 fatty acid
* Helps maintain healthy ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids when consumed as a part of diet
* Rich content of lauric acid, the source of disease fighting fatty acid derivative monolaurin
* Contains 6-8 per cent monounsaturated oleic acid
* Inhibitory effect against certain chemical carcinogens
* Superior antigenotoxic activity

Studies undertaken by the Biochemistry Department, University of Kerala showed that coconut oil:
* Does not elevate blood total cholesterol
* Increases blood HDL cholesterol
* Consumed along with coconut kernel lowers blood cholesterol
* Does not elevate LDL cholesterol or LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio
* Decreases serum triglycerides

The recommended therapeutic dose of coconut oil is 3-4 tablespoons a day. So little for so many benefits!

Coconut palms - the timber of the future

News release from the Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries. We see them along our beachfronts and in many streets and gardens, but the iconic palm tree may soon have a new place in the Queensland lifestyle as a high-quality building product. Research conducted by Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) has found that cocowood, produced from coconut palm tree trunks, is suitable for use as high-value flooring, bench tops, kitchen cabinets and furniture. QPIF senior technician Gary Hopewell said the latest findings from the three-year $520,000 cocowood project showed that processed coconut palm wood was actually superior to many other commercially available timbers. "A number of Australian flooring product manufacturers are evaluating the material for their domestic manufacturing operations," he said. "Timber industry representatives from Australia, Fiji and Samoa, including flooring market and production specialists and potential suppliers and processors, are studying drying and processing technologies to ensure strict quality control of the product. "Even medium-density palm logs can be processed to make attractive veneers and plywood. "The positive results achieved to date support development of palm stem processing in Pacific island countries of origin, with value-added flooring and other products produced in Australia." Read the full article at the DPI website (opens in new window)

Finally found ‘wild’ Coconuts!

Finally, after regularly visiting this beach for 3 years, I found some stranded coconuts! This is at Rules Beach, close to Baffle Creek (between Bundaberg & Agnes Water) on the East Coast of Australia. There were quite a few this time, but most felt very light, to my knowledge a good sign that they won’t germinate. I’ve got a bunch here which are promising, I’ll keep you informed on their progress.

Coconut website Reference

Here’s a list of coconut websites we’ve come across so far. If you would like to add your coconut site, just leave a comment! Note that CocoNutters is in no way affiliated with any of the websites below.General

General Coconut websites

Wikipedia – a whole range of general coconut information including propagation & cultivation.

Coconut Research Centre – Your source for information on the health and nutritional aspects of coconut, coconut oil, palm, palm oil and related topics.

Cocotap – the handy little tool to drink coconut water easily. Invented by Paul Richardson.

The Coconut Odyssey – the bounteous possibilities of the tree of life

Asian and Pacific Coconut Community – The Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) is an intergovernmental organization of 15 major coconut producing countries accounting for over 90% of world coconut production and exports of coconut products.

Coconut – The web guide to the tropical world of coconuts

Coconuts in Thailand – Farming Coconuts in Thailand

Coconut Oil websites

Nature Pacific – Very friendly suppliers of organic Fiji Grown Virgin Coconut Oil

Kokonut Pacific – Developers of DME virgin coconut oil

Coconut-info.com – The purpose of this site is to provide information on the health benefits of coconut products, particularly coconut oil.

Coconutoil.com – Source for research on the health benefits of coconut oil

Coconut health benefits

The Coconut Diet – An internet discussion group discussing the health benefits of coconut oil.

Stunning Malayan Red Dwarf Coconut Palm

malayred
Originally uploaded by Coconutters

Dwarf Coconut Palms - Backyard Dwarves

Solomon varieties of dwarf coconuts open up possibilities for the backyarder. A recent global survey found 780 described coconut varieties. Many have been developed specifically for certain commercially important traits. Tall varieties represent the majority in commercial production due to a higher copra yield and longer productive lifespan, but the merits of the dwarf varieties are well worth considering, especially for the backyard or small scale production.There were eight dwarf varieties selected from the Solomon Islands and imported by the Townsville council in the early 1980’s. The original plan was to replace some of the tall palms along The Strand with these impressive compact varieties for foreshore stability and tourism appeal. I won’t elaborate on the perceived danger issue but it is said “coconuts have eyes of their own and have long served mankind”.The original Solomon collection has been well maintained and one of the originals, the Malay Golden Dwarf found its way to the far north, with thanks to the old Kamerunga research station in Cairns. There are also a number of the shorter palms, known as village dwarfs, growing around the Cape York Peninsula. They are very compact palms – small enough to grow in containers and bear numerous, small, golden orange fruits, with thin husks and great flavour. Others are the Red Spicata Dwarf, which has a stalk-less fruit attached directly to the main stem of the bunch, a Malay Yellow dwarf which is also very thin husked with medium sized light flavoured fruits, and a Giant Green dwarf, which has a full size crown but extremely compact trunk.
Click here for the full dwarf coconut article written by Paul Richardson from Cocotap

Coconut care - Some hints on establishing your palms

These nuts have been in the post for a couple of days so it will pay to get them out of the packaging and into a tub of half strength mix of liquid fertilizer or at least water, in the shade, as quickly as possible. The nuts were growing in filtered sunlight so will handle full sun when settled in but need at least 50% sun for as much of the day as possible.
The nuts are the most advanced that packaging or State requirements allow. They will gain nutritional benefit from attachment to the nut for about 18months and even longer in sub optimal conditions. Coconuts have a fibrous root system. Each root will develop with equal importance both feeding the plant and anchoring it. No tap root develops.

Click here to read Roger's full coconut care article
Further notes on growing coconuts are available by email from Roger Goebel. Current June 2009, Roger Goebel. To buy dwarf coconut palms visit Cactus Island Online & Mail Order Nursery