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In Sri Lanka, coconut {Cocos nucifera L.) has been classified into three varieties, typica,
nana and aurantiaca based mainly on their stature and breeding behaviour. Typica and nana are
tall and dwarf coconuts respectively while aurantiaca includes intermediate types. Different
phenotypes within a variety have been classified as forms of coconut. Current Sri Lankan coconut
classification includes 19 different forms within three varieties. There are four different forms of
coconut within variety nana, as green, yellow, red and brown dwarfs based on the colour of the
epicarp of the fruit. They all conform to die morphological features of variety nana except the
yellow dwarf population which was observed to be a phenotypic mixture of different types of
coconut The current study was conducted to differentiate die phenotypes within the Sri Lankan
Yellow Dwarf (SLYD) population and to classify them based on existing criteria. A sample of 200
yellow dwarf palms were studied to determine their breeding behaviour, and the morphological
characteristics related to stem, leaf, inflorescence and fruit morphology and yield. Based on
quantitative and qualitative data generated, die pure Sri Lanka yellow dwarf coconut form could
be distinguished and in addition a new coconut form which was named as Sri Lanka Yellow Semi
Tall (SLYST) which was classified within the variety aurantiaca, was identified within the yellow
dwarf population. There was a further group of coconuts which could not be .placed within die
existing varietal classification and they were hypothesized to be a population resulting from cross
pollination between SLYD and SLYST.
