The coconut tree is an incredible plant that was once native to the tropics but can now be found across the continents. It is believed that the name ‘coconut’ comes from Spanish and Portuguese explorers, coming from the sixteenth century word ‘coco’ which means ‘head’ or ‘skull’ due to the three indentations of the coconut that resemble facial features.
The coconut is unique in that every part of it can be used in some way. The water inside can be drunk, the fruit encased is edible, the shells are used in multiple ways and the husk, the coconut’s hair, can be used in coir rolls.
At its tallest height, a coconut tree can reach 30m and those pinnate leaves grow up to 90cm in length. The flowers of the plant are polygamomonoecious, meaning that both male and female flowers blossom within the same inflorescence.
It is believed that the coconut originates from South Asian soil, however, research reveals that the origin claim of the fruit could also be in the Northern region of South America. With the research of fossils coming into play, the origin of the coconut could be as old as 15 million years. The coconut tree thrives in tropical regions, it requires a warm climate for growth.
The Coconut Tree and its Contribution to Coir Rolls
The fact that coconut trees are grown so commercially is a boon for companies such as ourselves. The coconut husk is the main ingredient in a coir roll which is a sustainable waste product used to provide bank protection for use where the land meets the water (river banks, streams, channels and lake edges.)
Coir rolls help the environment, as they are used as a softer and effective method of erosion control or to establish instant habitat. Coir rolls are biodegradable and consist of tightly packed fibre wrapped in Polypropylene netting.
We grow only native UK provenance plants, either from seed or division, which are used to plant up coir rolls. The pre-planted coir rolls are then “grown on” at our specialist nursery until the plants are established and ready for installation on site.
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