Triandra palm
Areca triandra

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A clumping palm. It grows to 4.5 m high. It has several trunks and these have rings around them due to leaf scars. The stems are pale green. The leaf sheaths form a crown-shaft. It has feather-like leaves. The leaflets are both wide and narrow on the one leaf. The ends of the leaflets is jagged. They are deep green. The flowering stalk comes from below the crown-shaft. The male and female flowers are separate but on the same plant. The flowers are pale coloured and have a strong lemon perfume. The fruit are orange-red when ripe and 2.5 cm long. The seed is oval but flattened at one end.

There are 60 Areca species. They are tropical.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is a plant for the humid tropics. It does best in direct sunlight. It needs plenty of water. It grows in forest near the seashore. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Adelaide Botanical Gardens hot house. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia (country/location of origin), Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The nuts are eaten as a betel substitute.

Edible parts

Nuts, cabbage, palm heart

How it is grown

Plants are grown from fresh seed. These germinate quickly. Plants need to be sheltered from wind and direct sun while small. Plants can also be grown from suckers.

Plants grow quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Bon gua, Chnarb, Jangali supari, Pinang hutan, Pinang triandra, Sla prei, Taw-kun-thi, Wils areca palm

Synonyms

Areca aliceae W. Hill ex F. Muell.; Areca borneensis Becc.; Areca laxa Buch.-Ham.; Areca nagensis Griffith; Areca polystachya (Miquel) H. Wendl.; Nenga nagensis (Griff.) Scheff.; Ptychosperma polystachyum Miq.;