Monocots is the genus

Everybody recognizes the coconut as a nut.   It's interior in commercial forms is called copra.  Butthe coconut is not alone.   There are many relatives of the palm which have edible kernels and therefore are "nuts" if we were to define "kernel" as the core or heart of any fruit.    In most of this group, the edible portion of the fruit is available only in the green or immature stage of the fruit's growth.  The fruit starts as a juicy pulp center which can be extracted through holes in the shell or by cracking.  As the fruit ripens and the pulpy interior solidifies and in some instances becomes fiberous, it is harder to eat.  In some instances it gets so hard it resembles ivory and is utilized in making buttons and billiard balls.

Coconut - cocos nucifera

The cocnut is by farthe most important nut in the world commercially becaused it is prized for its meat and milk within the shell which is rich in food and fat.  The nut is valued for the charcoal derived from the shells, for the coir fibre that comes from the husk to make brushes, clothe, rope, and a thousand other products.  The oil from coconut is very important in soaps, face creams, food oils, and many food applications.  The lumber helps build homes, and the large fronds leaves supply thatched roofs.  Millions of people in the tropics rely on the coconut palm tree.

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The Carna-uba or Wax Palm

A close relative with over 30 species, this tree is found mostly in the west Indies and tropical America.   The leaves are coated with wax which is removed by shaking.   The carnauba Wax is important in the food industry as a way to harden chocolate and shine chocolate and sugar products.   It is the final buff coat in processing.

Other edible Species:

Tucan Nuts , Awara Nuts, Panama Nuts Guere-Palm Nuts, Muru-muru Nuts    This very confusing genus ,astrocaryum, is found  in northern South America and the fruit yields edible oil that finds commercial use in margerine and similar products.

Coquilla Nut     Comprised of some 40 kinds of palm trees, mostly in Brazil.  The nut is placed on the edge of an ax placed on a flat stone and fixed with two stones, one on each side.   The man gives it an expert blow with a wooden club which splits it in two and two kernels can be extracted.  Then the same operation is repeated twice with the halves.   This frees all four kernels in the plant.    From the kernel a very fine cooking oil is obtained which has local demand in the marketplace. 

Cohoon Nut  TFound in Central America, the fruit which is the size of a large egg grows in clusters resembling giant grapes.   This is an excellent source of palm oil.

Gru-Gru Palm - acrocomia

Found abundantly in Trinidad and Tobaggo in dry hilly locations.  The oil is valuable.  The sweet pulpy portion of the fruit as well as the kernel is edible.    Some is used in soap manufacturing in Bolivia and paraguay.  Oil lamps also burn this oil.  In Brazil it is eaten by cattle and some humans but it is not loved except in local markets.

Sugar Plum  arenga     Eaten by Filipinos by boiling the ground seeds with sugar to form a kind of sweetmeat.   In this form they are often sold in Manilla markets.    The actual nut meat is white and has an agreeable but bland flavor.