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The Coconut: Phylogeny, Origins, and Spread comprehensively covers the botany, phylogeny, origins, and spread of the coconut palm. The coconut is used primarily for its oil, fiber, and as an article of food, including its tender-nut water. Until the 1950s, coconut oil used to rank first in the world in production and international trade among all the vegetable oils. Since then, lower-cost sources such as the African oil palm, soybean, canola, and others have overtaken the coconut in oil production and trade. The coconut, Cocos nucifera L. (Arecaceae), is a dominant part of the littoral vegetation across the tropics. In addition to discussing the origins of the coconut and its use as a crop, the book covers the resurgence in the use of the coconut in food, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals.

Presents the phylogeny, origins, and spread of the coconut
Explores the broad-based use of coconut from basic food source to nutraceuticals
Provides ethnobotanical information on cultivation and use of this tropical crop

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1. The Coconut in the World 2. Early History, Lore, and Economic Botany 3. Taxonomy and Intraspecific Classification 4. Paleobotany and Archeobotany 5. Phylogeny 6. Biogeography 7. Origins: Past Observations 8. Origins 9. Spread 10. Afterword: Does the Coconut Have a Future?

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Nayar, N Madhavan
. Emeritus Scientist, Department of Science & Technology (Government of India) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research
. Director of 3 crop/cropping systems-based ICAR institutes (Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod; Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla; Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Trivandrum)
. Former Joint Director, CPCRI Regional Station, Vittal
. Former Section / Division Head in Central Potato Research Institute and Central Rice Research Institute
. Editor of 6 books; author of ca. 190 scientific papers

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