Areca macrocalyx

Botanical Description

Areca macrocalyx is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm growing up to 6 metres tall. The unbranched stem is topped by a crown of fairly large leaves. The plant is harvested from the wild for its seed, which is used as a substitute for betel nut (Areca catechu) and as a source of materials. It is often semi-cultivated for its fruit around the villages of highland New Guinea, and the fruits are sometimes sold in local markets[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. This species has been found in a wide range of tropical forest habitats, from the lowland to 1, 600 metres, and also persists in secondary habitats. It has no known specific threat, although there are general threats to the habitats in which it occurs - these include the threat of increased access (and subsequent hunting and illegal logging) via new roads. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].