A monograph of the betel nut palms (Areca: Arecaceae) of East Malesia

Abstract

The palm genus Areca is widespread in tropical Asia and includes the economically important betel nut palm, A. catechu. The genus has three centres of high species diversity: the Sunda Region, the Philippines and East Malesia (to the east of Wallace's line). The taxonomy of the genus in East Malesia has been neglected. Prior to this study, 19 species were accepted for this area, all but one endemic, but their limits and differences were not understood. Here, we provide a taxonomic monograph of East Malesian Areca spp., based on an extensive study of the genus in herbaria and in the field. We recognize six species of Areca in East Malesia, including the widespread cultivated A. catechu. Five wild species are accepted, namely A. macrocalyx, A. mandacanii, A. novohibernica, A. oxycarpa and A. vestiaria. We place 12 of the previously accepted species into synonymy, and provide additional new synonymy in A. catechu. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 168, 147–173.

A new species of betel nut palm (Areca: Arecaceae) from western New Guinea

“…Discussion:--Prior to the discovery of this new taxon, three species of Areca were known from New Guinea Heatubun et al 2012). The most widespread species, A. macrocalyx Zipp.…”

“…Baker & Heatubun 2012, Baker et al 2006, Banka & Baker 2004, Banka & Barfod 2004, Barfod & Heatubun 2009, Dransfield et al 2000, Heatubun & Barfod 2008) and at least one new species has been discovered on almost every field trip. Here we describe a new species of the betel nut palm genus Areca (Arecaceae), which has been lately discovered in New Guinea despite the recent completion of a monograph of the genus in East Malesia (Heatubun et al 2012).…”

Phytoconstituents, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Livistona chinensis (Jacquin), Saribus rotundifolius (Lam.) Blume and Areca catechu Linnaeus Nuts

“…S. rotundifolius bud is highly esteemed as a vegetable in the Philippines. Nuts are eaten 20,21 . A. catechu is widely used in ethno-medicine in most parts of Asia for the treatment of ailments such as urinary infections, diarrhoea, foot sore, and so on 22 .…”

Study of Fastness, UV Protection, Deodorization and Antimicrobial Properties of Silk Fabrics Dyed with the Liquids Extracted from the Gallnuts, Areca Nuts, and Pomegranate Peels

“…Areca nut is popular chewable items used in traditional herbal medicine [16][17][18]. Areca nut exhibits multiple therapeutic properties like, aphrodisiac [19], antihypertensive [20,21], wound healing [22], hypoglycemic [23,24] and antidepressant [25].…”