Areca macrocalyx
Zipp. ex Blume
Arecaceae
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:
Young fruits with the remains of the male flowers hanging down
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
Young fruits with the remains of the male flowers hanging down
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
Dotir, Papua New Guinea
Photograph by: S. Barron
Image credit to Palmweb
Flowering and ftuiting plants
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
Plant
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
Fruits for sale in a local market
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
Kikori, Papua New Guinea
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
Ripening fruits
Photograph by: S. Barron
Image credit to Palmweb
Developing fruits
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
Inflorescence
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
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 Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 5.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, 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 -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
