Areca whitfordii

Areca (ah-REHK-ah) whitfordii (whit-FORD-ee)
Scientific Classification
Genus: Areca (ah-REHK-ah) Species: whitfordii (whit-FORD-ee)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Philippines: bungan-gubat (Tagalog).

Habitat and Distribution

Southeast Asia - Philippines-(Luzon, Mindoro).

Habitat: Semi-swampy forest, at low elevations, where it can be common in river swamps.

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Description

Areca whitfordii is an evergreen, single-stemmed palm that can grow up to 10 metres tall. The unbranched stem can be up to 20cm in diameter and is topped by a crown of large leaves, each up to 2.5 metres long. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its seed, which is used as a substitute for betel nut (Areca catechu). Slash and burn agriculture affects most localities where this plant grows. It is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)

A small to medium-sized, pleonanthic, monoecious palm up to 10 m tall; stem up to 20 cm in diameter. Leaves about 2.5 m long; sheaths forming a prominent, somewhat swollen crownshaft; blade pinnate, with falcate-acuminate leaflets, leaflets with 2-3 prominent ribs, median leaflets about 100 cm × 4.5-5 cm. Inflorescence appearing on the trunk below the crown leaves, 3 times branched, spiciform; spikes numerous, with 1-2 female flowers at base and many male ones above, flowers sessile; male flowers unknown; of the female flowers the sepals ovate, petals longer than the sepals, with a broad triangular point; fruiting perianth cup-shaped, about 15 mm long. Fruit an ellipsoid drupe, 4-5.5 cm × 1.8-2 cm, with a truncate apex, brownish. Seed ovoid-ellipsoid, 2.5-3 cm long, with ruminate endosperm. A. whitfordii grows in semi-swampy areas in the lowland; it may be common in river swamps. (PROSEA)

Culture

Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a

Comments and Curiosities

Edible Uses: The seeds are used as a substitute for those of areca palm (Areca catechu). 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. Betel seeds contain tannins and alkaloids - these stimulate saliva flow, accelerate heart and perspiration rates, suppress hunger and offer positive protection against intestinal worms. Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2019-09-08. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Areca+whitfordii

Madulid, D. 1998. Areca whitfardii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1998: e.T39029A10163123. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T39029A10163123.en. Downloaded on 08 September 2019.