Areca catechu
Areca catechu
Safety & Hazards
Excessive use of this plant causes profuse salivation, vomiting and stupor[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ].
Botanical Description
Areca catechu is an evergreen single-stemmed palm tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall but is more commonly around 15 metres[ 335 Title Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory Publication Author Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M. Publisher U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Year 1987 ISBN Description A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics. ]. The straight, unbranched stem can be 25 - 40cm in diameter, topped by leaves up to 2 metres long[ 320 Title Trees Commonly Cultivated in SE Asia Publication Author Jensen. M. Publisher FAO Regional Office, Bangkok. Year 1999 ISBN 974-89377-5-5 Description , 481 Title Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea Publication Author Publisher World Health Organisation Year 2009 ISBN 978-92-9061-249-0 Description Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on modern research into the plants. ]. Originally native to the Philippines, the plant is now widely cultivated in the tropics of eastern Asia for its seed, which is used as a mildly narcotic stimulant[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. , 297 Title Palms of the World Publication Author Blombery. A. & Rodd. T. Publisher Angus and Robertson Year 1992 ISBN 0-207-14848-1 Description An excellent guide, well illustrated, with information on cultivation, uses, habitat etc of almost 200 species of Palms. ]. The plant also supplies a range of other useful products including thatch, fibre, oil and medicinal applications. It is sometimes grown as an ornmental[ 339 Title Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability Publication Author W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors) Website http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents Publisher United Nations University Press, Tokyo Year 1993 ISBN 92-808-0824-9 Description The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above. ].