Coconut and oil palm fruits can be grouped as drupes. A drupe is a type of fruit that has a fleshy outer layer (exocarp), a hard pit or shell (endocarp) surrounding the seed, and a middle layer of flesh (mesocarp). Examples of other drupe fruits include peaches, plums, cherries, and mangoes. In the case of coconut and oil palm fruits, the hard shell (endocarp) is what we commonly refer to as the "coconut shell" or "palm kernel". Inside this shell, there is a layer of flesh (mesocarp) and a seed or nut (endocarp) that is often used to produce oil.
