Question

Mango and coconut are 'drupe' of fruits. In mango, fleshy mesocarp is edible part of coconut? What does milk of tender coconut represent?

Answer 1

Mango and coconut are drupe fruits. They develop from monocarpellary superior ovaries and are one seeded. It is differentiated into outer thin epicarp, middle fleshy mesocarp and inner stony endocarp.

The edible part of coconut (Cocos nucifera) is endosperm. The milk of tender coconut represents the oily endosperm in liquid form. Later it gets deposited along the walls of endocarp and forms edible flesh.