Palm Trees - Areca catechu (Dwarf Form)

Areca catechu (Dwarf Form)

Click thumbnails to view fullsize image.

Areca catechu (Dwarf Form) from my collection, October 2007







General Information
Family:
Arecaceae
Common Names:
Dwarf Betel Nut
Synonyms:
Areca hortensis
Areca himalayana
Areca nigra
Distribution:
Southeast Asia
Habitat:
Tropical Rainforst
Conservation Status:
Not Threatened
Habitat Threats:

Native Uses:
Medicinal
Stimulant
Commercial Uses:
Cultivated For Betel Nut

Physical Characteristics
Height:
Up to 2.5m (8ft)
Spread:
Up to 1.8m (6ft)
Growth Habit:
Solitary
Growth Rate:
Slow
Trunk Type:
Green Crownshaft
Green/Brown Prominently Ringed
Trunk Diameter:
Up to 200mm (8")
Leaf Type:
Pinnate
Leaf Size:
Up to 1.2m (4ft)
Leaf Colour:
Dark Green
Petiole:
Unarmed
Self Cleaning:
Yes
Inflorescence Colour:
White
Reproduction:
Monoecious
Fruit Description:
Up to 50mm (2")
Ovoid
Fruit Colour:
Orange/Red

Cultural Requirements
Light:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Soil:
Moist
Well Draining
Watering:
Frequent
Maintain Moisture
Min. Temp:
2°C (36°F)
Tolerances:
Full Sun
High Humidity
Pot Culture
Propagation:
Seed
Germination:
1-3 Months
30°C (86°F)
Planting:
Usually Solitary
Uses:
Houseplant
Ornamental
Potted
Small Lots
Availability:
Specialist Nurseries
Seed Distributors

References: IUCN 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 14 December 2004.
Kew World Checklist Of Selected Plant Families. <www.kew.org/wcsp/home.do>
Maas, P. J. M. & H. Maas-van de Kamer. Costaceae. Pp. 413-423 in, B. E. Hammel, M. H. Grayum, C. Herrera, & N. Zamora (eds.), Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica. vol. II. Gimnospermas y monocotiledóneas (Agavaceae- Musaceae). Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 92: 1-694.
Noblick, L.R. Ph.D., 1998. Hardiness Observations In Palm Species. <www.bg-map.com/PLMTBLA.HTML>
Riffle,R.L. & Craft,P. 2003. An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms.