These plant species grow in the salt spray and loose sand of beaches and the moist lowland slopes of volcanoes. They flourish in poor soils and under very harsh climatic conditions.
gallery pages:  1  2  3  4  5  6  >  >>
< 1 of 251 >
Coconut Palms (Cocos nucifera) and vines of Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) growing right down to the surf line. Shoreline of Ma'alaea Bay, Kihei, south Maui.
This and the following sequence of photographs shows the stages of development of the fruit or DRUPE (the coconut fruit is not a true "nut") of a Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera). This image shows immature coconuts (fruits) that are still green.
These coconuts are well along in the ripening process, just beginning to turn brown and developing a thick outer husk (or exocarp). If left unharvested, the nuts will harden and dry out, eventually dropping to the ground when completely ripe. One of the hazards of living with coconut palms is that the large, heavy nuts commonly dislodge from their stems when ripe and fall to the ground with a good deal of force. I've never been konked by one of these but have come close on several occasions.
Here is a photo of an immature coconut (Cocos nucifera) that has just been opened to show the innards. The outer layer (exocarp) is greenish yellow (immature) to light yellowish brown (mature). The husk (mesocarp) is brown colored and composed of numerous thick fibers (coir). The inner "stone" (endocarp) is extremely hard, woody and hairy; it is the part of the fruit sold in US mainland stores as a "coconut." In the image the "meat" and "milk" has been removed.
This VERY mature coconut (Cocos nucifera) has just begun to dry out in the sun; its exocarp has lost its color and the fibrous coir of the mesocarp is beginning to show through.
This coconut (Cocos nucifera) has been drying in the sun for a long time and the fibrous husk (coir) of the mesocarp is now plainly visible. Soon the hard inner core of the nut will be visible.
This image shows the hard inner "stone" (endocarp) of the coconut (Cocos nucifera). The white "coconut meat" is the endosperm. The liquid often referred to as "milk" is actually the cotyledon, a sweet, spongy mass that eventually dissolves and begins to absorb the endosperm. The product sold as "coconut milk" in stores is usually the liquid extracted from the coconut meat when it is pulverized. Note: "Endosperm" is the tissue produced in the seeds of flowering plants at the time of fertilization. It surrounds the embryo and provides nutrition (starch), though it can also contain oils and protein.
Kanaha Beach, Kahului Bay, north Maui. The local plant species help stabilize the white coral sands of this beautiful stretch of beach. The tallest trees are Ironwood, mixed in with Kiawe (mesquite) and Kukui (Candlenut) trees. The tall bushes are Tree Heliotrope and the hummocky shrubs are Beach Naupaka.
The stabilized berm at Kanaha Beach, Kahului, north Maui.
Coconut Palms (Cocos nucifera) and vines of Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) growing right down to the surf line. Shoreline of Ma'alaea Bay, Kihei, south Maui.
Coconut Palms (Cocos nucifera) and vines of Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) growing right down to the surf line. Shoreline of Ma'alaea Bay, Kihei, south Maui.
Coconut Palms (Cocos nucifera) and vines of Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) growing right down to the surf line. Shoreline of Ma'alaea Bay, Kihei, south Maui.
gallery pages:  1  2  3  4  5  6  >  >>
< 1 of 251 >