Areca Nut Palm Tree
In english this palm is called the betel tree because its fruit the areca nut is often chewed along with the betel leaf a leaf from a vine of the family piperaceae.
Areca nut palm tree. The areca nut aer k e or e r i k e is the fruit of the areca palm areca catechu which grows in much of the tropical pacific melanesia and micronesia southeast and south asia and parts of east africa. Areca is derived from a local name from the malabar coast of india and catechu is from another malay name for this palm caccu. Areca catechu is a medium sized palm tree growing straight to 20 m 66 ft tall with a trunk 1015 cm 46 in in diameter. Betel nuts or areca nuts come from the areca palm tree areca catechu.
It is not a true nut however but a drupe. The palm grows natively in china indonesia and malaysia and was introduced to different islands via voyagers. The areca tree is a feathery palm that grows to approximately 15 m in height and is widely cultivated in tropical india bangladesh japan sri lanka south china the east indies the philippines and parts of africa. Areca catechu makes a graceful tall tree with dark green leaflets.
Normally a betel nut tree gains a height of 20 meters or more up to 30 meters with a crown of beautiful trees on a slender trunk of just 45 cm. The most famous of these is the areca nut palm areca catechu. The nuts or more accurately drupes of the areca palm are widely used throughout the tropics. The nuts of the areca palm are wrapped in the leaves of the betel vine and chewed as a stimulant.
As a house plant the areca palm greets and entertains guests with year round color. Creamy white flowers emerge that give way to small bright orange ornamental fruits that are referred to as betel nuts. Areca palm has moderate water needs once established outdoors. When newly planted keep the soil around the roots moist then water once or twice weekly during hot dry weather.