Morphology of Flowering Plants Question 74
74. Which part of the coconut produces coir? [1996]
(a) Seed coat
(b) Mesocarp
(c) Epicarp
(d) Pericarp.
Show Answer
Answer : b
Hints & Solutions
(b) Coir (Etymological origin: from Tamil and Malayalam - kayar - cord) is a coarse fibre extracted from the fibrous outer shell of a coconut. Coir fibres are found between the husk and the outer shell of a coconut. The individual fibre cells are narrow and hollow, with thick walls made of cellulose. They are pale when immature but later become hardened and yellowed as a layer of lignin is deposited on their walls.
