Cocos nucifera, the coconut, is one of the three most economically important palm species in the world, a status shared with African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera). The coconut not only features prominently in the export economy of many developing nations in the tropics, but it is an important resource at the subsistence level, not only for food, but also for fiber and cosmetic, as well as construction material.
