Arecaceae FAMILY Vulnerable

Areca whitfordii

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical 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[ 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. ]. 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)[ 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeSoutheast Asia - Philippines.

HabitatSemi-swampy forest, at low elevations, where it can be common in river swamps[ 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. , 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. ].