Areca catechu

Betel Nut

Species Name Areca catechu
Common Name Betel Nut
Family Arecaceae
Genus Areca
Taxonomic Synonyms/Past Names
Taxonomic Notes
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Species Information

1. Description
  • Solitary feather-leafed palm up to c. 15 m tall, 20-30 cm in diameter. Crownshaft green, with 6-8 arching leaves; fronds 2.4 m long, leaflets regularly arranged, longest leaflets c. 60 cm long. Old fronds abscised cleanly from the trunk. Inflorescence much branched just below crownshaft, with cream-coloured flowers. Fruits in a massive branch, green ripening yellow to red, ellipsoid, c. 4-5 cm long.
2. Tree Size
Large (>15 m) Show More

Small (4-10 m) (0)
0%
Medium (10-15 m) (0)
0%
Large (>15 m) (1)
100%
Unknown (0)
0%
3. Full Distribution
  • Origin unknown but likely native to the Philippines
4. Habitat and Ecology
  • An understory plant of tropical, high-rainfall forests
5. Altitude (in meters)
  • Up to 1000 m altitude
6. Landscape Type
Blue-green Corridors, Small Urban Green Spaces Show More

Urban Streets (0)
0%
Blue-green Corridors (1)
100%
Small Urban Green Spaces (1)
100%
Coastal Fronts (0)
0%
Unknown (0)
0%
7. IUCN Conservation Status
Not Evaluated Show More

Not Evaluated (1)
100%
Data Deficient (0)
0%
Least Concern (0)
0%
Near Threatened (0)
0%
Vulnerable (0)
0%
Endangered (0)
0%
Critically Endangered (0)
0%
Extinct in the Wild (0)
0%
Extinct (0)
0%
Unknown (0)
0%
8. Malaysian Red List from MyBIS
Not Evaluated Show More

Not Evaluated (1)
100%
Not Applicable (0)
0%
Data Deficient (0)
0%
Least Concern (0)
0%
Near Threatened (0)
0%
Vulnerable (0)
0%
Endangered (0)
0%
Critically Endangered (0)
0%
Regionally Extinct (0)
0%
Extinct in the Wild (0)
0%
Extinct (0)
0%
Unknown (0)
0%
9. Are more than 100 individuals available in local nurseries?
Unknown Show More

Yes (0)
0%
No (0)
0%
Unknown (1)
100%
10. How would you characterise the growth rate of this species?
Medium Show More

Fast (0)
0%
Medium (1)
100%
Slow (0)
0%
Unknown (0)
0%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

11. Does this species have an invasive root system?
No Show More

Yes (0)
0%
No (1)
100%
Unknown (0)
0%
  • It has fibrous roots

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

12. Is this species damaging or does it have staining resin or sap?
Unknown Show More

Yes (0)
0%
No (0)
0%
Unknown (1)
100%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

13. Does this species produce large and/or staining fruits?
Yes Show More

Yes (1)
100%
No (0)
0%
Unknown (0)
0%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

  • Large fruits [1]
14. Does this species produce substances in its bark, leaves, fruits and/or seeds that are poisonous or harmful to humans?
No Show More

Yes (0)
0%
No (1)
100%
Unknown (0)
0%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

  • Its fruits are edible [1]
15. Does this species have specific lighting requirements?
Full sun Show More

Full sun (1)
100%
Partial sun & shade (0)
0%
Full shade (0)
0%
Partial shade (0)
0%
Unknown (0)
0%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

16. How would you characterise the air pollution tolerance of this species?
Medium Show More

Low (0)
0%
Medium (1)
100%
High (0)
0%
Unknown (0)
0%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

17. How would you characterise the soil pollution tolerance of this species?
High Show More

Low (0)
0%
Medium (0)
0%
High (1)
100%
Unknown (0)
0%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

  • Able to tolerate high copper, lead, arsenic and mercury pollution in Hainan plantations [1]
18. Does this species have specific soil ph requirements?
Yes Show More

Yes (1)
100%
No (0)
0%
Unknown (0)
0%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

  • Prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Prefers a pH between 5.5-6.0, but will tolerate a pH between 4.5-6.8. [1]
19. Does this species have specialised habitat requirements?
No Show More

Yes (0)
0%
No (1)
100%
Unknown (0)
0%
  • An understory tree of tropical high-rainfall forests. Grows in various habitats.

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

  • An understory tree of tropical high-rainfall forests. Grows in various habitats. [1]
20. Does this species occur/survive in habitats prone to saltwater intrusion?
Unknown Show More

Yes (0)
0%
No (0)
0%
Unknown (1)
100%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

21. Does this species occur/survive at locations that experience high temperatures?
Yes Show More

Yes (1)
100%
No (0)
0%
Unknown (0)
0%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

  • Occurs in India and Indochina. [1]
22. Can this species tolerate inundation for >1 month?
Unknown Show More

Yes (0)
0%
No (0)
0%
Unknown (1)
100%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

23. Can this species tolerate water absence for >1 month?
Yes Show More

Yes (1)
100%
No (0)
0%
Unknown (0)
0%
  • Specimens on the roadside and at Kepong Botanic Gardens, Selangor, were tolerant of dry spells lasting three weeks and should be able to survive for one month.

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

24. Can this species tolerate storm conditions (e.g., strong winds)?
Unknown Show More

Yes (0)
0%
No (0)
0%
Unknown (1)
100%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

25. Does this species have specific humidity requirements?
No Show More

Yes (0)
0%
No (1)
100%
Unknown (0)
0%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

26. Is this species highly prone to predation, parasitism, and/or disease?
No Show More

Yes (0)
0%
No (1)
100%
Unknown (0)
0%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

27. Please provide any additional information for this species in the context of climate change resilience and/or vulnerability.
    Insufficient Data
28. Does this species have biodiversity value (e.g., provides food or habitat, or increases landscape connectivity for urban fauna)?
Unknown Show More

Yes (0)
0%
No (0)
0%
Unknown (1)
100%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

  • Its fruits attract wildlife [1]
29. Does this species have cultural value or provide products that are of some use to humans?
Yes Show More

Yes (1)
100%
No (0)
0%
Unknown (0)
0%

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found

  • Has medicinal uses and provides food: The fruits are edible to humans and wildlife. [1]

Contributors: anonymous

Last Updated: 2023-03-15

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