Question

Coir is obtained from
A. Fruit of Cocos nucifera
B. Seed of Cocos nucifera
C. Stem of Cocos nucifera
D. Leaves of Cocos nucifera

Answer 1

Coir is a natural fibre used in the manufacturing of products such as doormats, floor mats, brushes and mattresses. Cocos nucifera is the scientific name of the coconut tree. Coir is made from the mesocarp of coconut. It is not the edible part of the coconut. The answer can be found by identifying the part of the plant with mesocarp in it.

Complete answer:
The mesocarp is a part of the fruit. The coconut fruit mesocarp is husky and full of hard fibers. The manufacturing of coir includes defibering the mesocarp from retted coconuts. The extracted fibers are made clean of small fibrils using a steel comb.
Even though coir is obtained from the fruit, almost every part of the coconut tree is found to be of use. Thus it is often dubbed as Kalpavriksha. Let’s see the uses of the other parts.
Seed – The seed is very rough and is typically used in cooking and to produce oil. The oil is rich in trans fat and is used in cooking or hair wash. The liquid suspension for the endosperm in the early stages of seed development is sweet and rich in nutrients and is often enjoyed as a delicacy drink.
Stem – It is used as cheap timber, a place to tie grazing cattle and to produce brooms.
Leaves – Leaves of the tree are used extensively for thatching, broom making, and often for making novelty toys.

Coir is obtained from the fruit of Cocos nucifera. So the correct option is (A).

Note:
It is often difficult to tell apart the fruit and seed parts of the coconut. Coconut fruit is technically a drupe, but the mesocarp is hard fiber and not edible. The edible part is the endosperm inside the seed.