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Useful Tropical Plants

Areca macrocalyx

Zipp. ex Blume

Arecaceae

+ Synonyms

Areca glandiformis Lam.

Areca jobiensis Becc.

Areca multifida Burret

Areca nannospadix Burret

Areca nigasolu Becc.

Areca rechingeriana Becc.

Areca rostrata Burret

Areca torulo Becc.

Areca warburgiana Becc.

Common Name:

Areca macrocalyx
Young fruits with the remains of the male flowers hanging down
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
Areca macrocalyx Areca macrocalyx Areca macrocalyx Areca macrocalyx Areca macrocalyx Areca macrocalyx Areca macrocalyx Areca macrocalyx Areca macrocalyx Areca macrocalyx

General Information

Areca macrocalyx is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm growing up to 6 metres tall. The unbranched stem is topped by a crown of fairly large leaves.
The plant is harvested from the wild for its seed, which is used as a substitute for betel nut (Areca catechu) and as a source of materials. It is often semi-cultivated for its fruit around the villages of highland New Guinea, and the fruits are sometimes sold in local markets[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
This species has been found in a wide range of tropical forest habitats, from the lowland to 1, 600 metres, and also persists in secondary habitats. It has no known specific threat, although there are general threats to the habitats in which it occurs - these include the threat of increased access (and subsequent hunting and illegal logging) via new roads. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Southeast Asia - Indonesia (Maluku) to New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands

Habitat

Found in a wide range of tropical forest habitats, and also persisting in secondary habitats; at elevations from the lowland to 1,600 metres[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height5.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The seeds are used as an inferior substitute for those of areca palm (Areca catechu)[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. These uses are as follows:-

Seed - raw. The seed has mild narcotic properties, it is widely used in some areas of the tropics as a masticatory, being mixed with the leaves of a pepper plant (Piper betle), a gum and, often, lime[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
,
297
Title
Palms of the World
Publication
 
Author
Blombery. A. & Rodd. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson
Year
1992
ISBN
0-207-14848-1
Description
An excellent guide, well illustrated, with information on cultivation, uses, habitat etc of almost 200 species of Palms.
]. Betel seeds contain tannins and alkaloids - these stimulate saliva flow, accelerate heart and perspiration rates, suppress hunger and offer positive protection against intestinal worms[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].

Medicinal

The fruits have medicinal uses[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Other Uses

The leaves are used as thatch for huts or temporary buildings[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

The stems are used for flooring in traditional huts[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Areca+macrocalyx>

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