Yes, a coconut is indeed a fruit. Botanically speaking, coconuts are classified as a specific type of fruit called a drupe.
What is a Drupe?
A drupe is a fruit that has a hard, stony layer (sometimes called a pit) surrounding the seed. Other common examples of drupes include:
- Peaches
- Plums
- Cherries
- Olives
- Mangoes
Coconut Anatomy and Drupe Characteristics
The coconut exhibits the key characteristics of a drupe:
- Exocarp (Outer Layer): The smooth outer skin.
- Mesocarp (Middle Layer): The fibrous husk.
- Endocarp (Inner Layer): The hard, stony shell surrounding the coconut meat (endosperm) and coconut water. The seed is inside this shell.
Therefore, the hard shell we often see in stores is technically the endocarp of the coconut fruit, protecting the seed inside.
