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Nature and Origin of Coco-Nut Pearls

Abstract

IN the endosperm cavity of the seed of Cocos * nucifem a local calcareous formation is sometimes found to occur, to which the name of “cocos-pearl” has been given, and which must be looked upon as a highly remarkable and very rare occurrence.2 Such a cocos-pearl has usually the form of a pear, or egg; sometimes it is almost spherical and has a smooth surface, as a rule of a milky-white colour. Its chemical composition corresponds somewhat to that of the oyster-pearl, from which it differs in appearance, however, by the lack of the pearly sheen.

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References

  1. Reprinted, by kind permission of the author, from the Proceeding of the Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen te Amsterdam, vol. xxvi. Nos. 5 and 6.

  2. F. W. T. Hunger, "Cocos nucifera," 2nd ed. pp. 243–250, Pl. lxvii. (1920).

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  3. E. Rumphius, "Herbarium Amboinense", vol. i. pp. 21–23 (1741); "D'Amboinsche Rariteitkamer", pp. 291–292 (1741).

  4. Proceedings of the Boston Soc. of Nat. Hist., vol. vii. p. 229 (1861).

  5. Ibid., vol. vii. pp. 290–293 (1861).

  6. NATURE, vol. 36, p. 157 (June 16, 1887).

  7. W. W. Skeat, "Malay Magic, being an Introduction to the Folk-lore and Popular Religion on the Malay Peninsula," p. 196 (1900).

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HUNGER, F. Nature and Origin of Coco-Nut Pearls. Nature 115, 138–139 (1925). https://doi.org/10.1038/115138a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/115138a0

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