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Stems solitary, erect, to 20 m tall, 10-20 cm in diam., gray with conspicuous nodes. Leaf sheaths closed and forming green, slightly swollen crownshafts to 1 m; petioles no more than 5 cm; rachis recurved, to 2 m; pinnae 20-30 per side of rachis, regularly and closely arranged, stiffly erect; middle pinnae 30-60 cm, 3-7 cm wide at mid-point. Inflorescences infrafoliar, branched to 3 orders, erect; rachillae many, flexuose, yellowish green, to 25 cm; male flowers solitary, alternate and distichous on rachillae; stamens 6; female flowers at bases of rachillae only, larger than male flowers. Fruits yellow, orange, or red, ovoid, to 8 ¡Ñ 6 cm.

Reference(s)

Flroa of China 23: 154¡V155. 2010.

Cultivars & Varieties - Back To Top

There is a well defined dwarf form which tends to be about twice as thick in the stem, it also appears to flower at a shorter size. There is as well selective breeding been done in some countries to improve fruit quality, quanitity and seasonality.

2. Morphology - Back To Top

Plant Habit & Growth Form - Back To Top

Single stem, up to 20 meters.

The Leaf - Back To Top

The Stem - Back To Top

The Flower - Back To Top

Betel nut trees are unisexual and often are pollinated just by the wind. There are both staminate and pistillate flowers on the same inflorescence. Flowers are a white to creamy yellow colour.

The Fruit - Back To Top

The Seed - Back To Top

3. Cultivation - Back To Top

Preferred Climate - Back To Top

Flowering and Fruiting Season - Back To Top

Temperature - Back To Top

Water - Back To Top

Areca catechu is not a very drought tolerant plant. It can take some dry spells, but should be kept slightly moist. Roots tend not to grow very deep and if ground water is very deep, irrigation is required.

Light - Back To Top

When young betel nut trees benefit from partial shade, strong direct sun often damaging the leaves. In Taiwan many times they are started under shade cloth or otehr shade providign trees such as banana. When older, they grow in full sun in the open. They may also be foudn in forests where they try to poke out of the canopy.

Nutrition - Back To Top

Pruning - Back To Top

Betel nut is never pruned because it grows a solitary stem that grows straight up.

Propagation Methods - Back To Top

Areca catechu is only grown from seed. As it is a single stemmed tree incapable of branching, it cannot take from cuttings. Tissue culture may also be one possible route, but we are currently unaware of any projects involving such methods.

4. Other Topics Related to - Back To Top

Uses of - Back To Top

Betel nut is consumed in massive quantities worldwide but especially in Asia. Combined with edible lime and the leaf of Piper betel it is used as a stimulant and social chew. Read more about Betel Nut Chew here: Betel Nut Chew

How to Ship - Back To Top

*Small* betel nut plants should be shipped bare root as is standard for all shipping between borders. Roots should be cleaned carefully as to not damage too many. Wrap roots in moist sphagnum moss and wrap the upper part of the plant in drier (still slightly moist) moss and wrap in a plastic bag not tight, but tight enough to avoid the moss from slippign away fromteh plant. Place in box with padding such as newsprint and use the fastest means of shipping available. Plants are usually OK in transit for up to 2 weeks if they are not exposed to huge temperature extremes.

How to Acclimate from the Mail - Back To Top

Betel nut platns prefer medium density soils, they do relatively poor in loose coco/peat based soils in our experience. Young plants also do not liek full sun and should be shaded. Plant the young palm into a pot and place somewhere that is around 20-30C and medium light without any direct sun. Avoid excessive watering to avoid rot, but also dont let the soil fully dry. At about 60-100cm they can start to be acclimated and planted in ground outdoors.

Photos - Back To Top

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General Information

Plant Types

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Areca catechu Plant Guide

Betel Nut

Table of Contents

1. Classification

2. Morphology

3. Cultivation

4. Other Topics

1. Classification & Taxonomy - Back To Top

Botanical Description of Areca catechu - Back To Top