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You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? (mander.xyz)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 13 points 3 months ago

It's probably going to be political since it's wrong.

The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the palm tree family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus Cocos. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which botanically is a drupe, not a nut. They are ubiquitous in coastal tropical regions and are a cultural icon of the tropics.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut

[-] fossilesque@mander.xyz 7 points 3 months ago

I'm off to edit that wiki, the tree is a bit of a misnomer.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arecaceae

[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 months ago

I see a fight coming your way in the talk section, lol. Good luck.

[-] fossilesque@mander.xyz 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Nah, it's correct. Just needs a clarifying sentence. They use the word tree but it's not technically a tree, rather tree-like. The word tree is used for ease, colloquially. They grew like this as they are plants well suited for seaside wind and storms, hurricanes... Wetland plants. The grasses that didn't give up. Tree definitions vary from form vs function, and form is used more colloquially.

Edit: Fixed yayayayyay I need more edits this month

[-] JackRiddle@sh.itjust.works 11 points 3 months ago

No tree is a tree. "Tree" is not a clearly-defined taxonomical category. Anything that is tree-like gets grouped under the catgory "tree".

[-] GlennMagusHarvey@mander.xyz 8 points 3 months ago

I think it's arguable that "tree" is just a term for a growth habit rather than anything really taxonomically meaningful.

[-] juliebean@lemm.ee 2 points 3 months ago

agreed. my grandma used to have a big ol' tree in her front yard, but it had to get cut down. it didn't die though, and thanks to this unintentional coppicing, it is now an enormous bush. my grandma is very proud of her bush.