Ethnobotanical study of the coconut palm in the Coastal Zone of Benin

The coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.), also known as “tree of life”, is widely distributed across the Coastal Zone in Benin, where its cultivation is most important. Using participatory research appraisal tools and techniques, a survey was conducted in this zone to assess the diversity of coconut ecotypes, associated endogenous knowledge and their utilization. Nineteen villages randomly selected, and comprising seven ethnic groups were surveyed. Ten different vernacular names were recorded across the study sites. The local diversity is very low. In particular, the number of ecotypes varied from 1 to 5. Moreover, recorded ecotypes were grouped in three categories including the tall ecotype known as endogenous ecotype, dwarf ecotypes known as introduced ecotypes and medium-sized ecotypes resulting from the crossing between the first two. The most important preference criteria used by producers were productivity (43%) followed by sweet taste (33%) and quantity of water (33%). Apart from being used for food, the species is also used for construction, traditional medicine, and traditional ceremonies. This study provides important information on the genetic resources of coconut palm while highlighting the socio-economic importance of the species in the Coastal Zone of Benin.   Key words: Endogenous knowledge, diversity, Cocos nucifera, palm uses, preference criteria, Benin.