Areca catechu L.

Solitary palm; stem to 15 m. or more, slightly swollen near the base, to 25 cm. in diameter above, pale grey-brown below, rich dark green above in younger parts, with prominent leaf scars 15–20 cm. distant.. Crown shaft to 1 m. or more in length, wider than the trunk, bearing a crown of 8–10 leaves. Leaf-sheath 60–80 cm. long, dark green; leaf to 2 m. long, with petiole to 15 cm. only; leaflets rich dark green, ± 15 on each side of the rachis, densely crowded, rather untidy, tending to droop somewhat at the tips, with 3 or more folds, often tattering at the tips in age, at the base 40–50 cm. long, in mid-leaf ± 70 cm. long, at the leaf tip 15–25 cm. long.. Inflorescence erect at first; prophyll thin, to 60 cm. long, 25 cm. wide, pale yellow-green when young and newly exposed, rapidly splitting, drying and falling; peduncle to 20 cm. long by 5 cm. wide; rachillae ± 30 cm. long, stiff, erect or spreading, pale creamy yellow, bearing ivory-white flowers along the lower side only.. Male flowers ± 5 mm. long; sepals free, minute, unequal, ± 1 mm. long by 1 mm. wide; petals 3, valvate, ± 5 mm. long by 2 mm. wide, somewhat sinuous; stamens 6, with short filaments and anthers to 4 mm. long by 0.8 mm. wide.. Female flower with 3 imbricate, triangular sepals ± 1 cm. long by 1.1 cm. wide at base; petals 3, imbricate, ± 1.4 cm. long by 0.9 cm. wide; ovary rounded, ± 8 mm. in diameter; stigmas fleshy, white, glistening at anthesis.. Young fruit green, ripening dirty yellow, orange or brick-red, ± 5 cm. long by 3.5 cm. wide.. Seed globose, flattened at basal end, ± 2 cm. in diameter; endosperm deeply and finely ruminate, the ruminations reddish brown when fresh.

A tropical plant. They occur from sea level up to 900 m altitude in the tropics. It does best in rich moist soils in a shady, sheltered position. It needs soils of reasonable depth for good production. Plants are drought and frost tender. The seed needs to be sown when temperatures are 24-27°C. Plants can tolerate temperatures down to a minimum of 13-15°C. Found in settled areas throughout the Philippines. Also found in virgin forest in Palawan. It grows in Nepal up to 400 m altitude. In Cairns Botanical Gardens including var. alba. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Yunnan.

The nut is chewed (with lime and betel pepper) as a masticatory. The heart of the palm is edible and eaten raw or cooked. It is also used for pickles. The young fruit are used to tenderise meat. CAUTION Chewing betel nut is associated with cancer of the mouth and throat. It contains alkaloids and tannins.

Trees are grown from seed. The seedlings are transplanted at 1-2 years of age. A spacing of 3 m between plants is the best spacing. Bananas can be used to provide temporary shade while betel nut palms get established. Holes 50 cm across and deep need to be dug. The seedlings should be planted 20 cm below ground level. As emerging prop roots develop the hole should be filled in.