Areca triandra

Areca triandra

The wild areca palm or triandra palm (Areca triandra Roxb. ex Buch.-Ham.) is a shrub species with bamboo-like stems belonging to the Arecaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Magnoliophyta division,
Class Liliopsida,
Subclass Arecidae,
Arecales Order,
Arecaceae family,
Subfamily Arecoideae,
Tribe Areceae,
Subtribe Arecinae,
Genus Areca,
Species A. triandra.
The terms are synonyms:
– Areca alicae W.Hill;
– Areca alicae W.Hill ex F.Muell.;
– Areca aliceae W.Hill;
– Areca aliceae W.Hill ex F.Muell.;
– Areca borneensis Becc.;
– Areca humilis Blanco;
– Areca humilis Blanco ex H.Wendl.;
– Areca laxa Buch.-Ham.;
– Areca nagensis Griff.;
– Areca polystachya (Miq.) H.Wendl.;
– Areca triandra var. bancana Scheff.;
– Areca triandra var. laxa (Buch.-Ham.) Becc.;
– Areca triandra var. nagensis (Griff.) Becc.;
– Nenga nagensis (Griff.) Scheff.;
– Ptychosperma polystachyum Miq..

Etymology –
The term Areca derives from areek, the common name of these palms used in the coasts of Malabar, a region of south-western India.
The specific triandra epithet derives from the Greek treís, three, and andrós, male, in reference to the male flower which has three stamens.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
The Areca triandra is a palm native to an area which includes: India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is also reportedly naturalized in Panama and southern China. Also in the wild, it is commonly found in coastal forest in Southeast Asia.
Its habitat is that of the undergrowth of the low-altitude alluvial forest, often at the edge of the vegetation.

Description –
The Areca triandra is a multi-stem monoecious palm with grouped stems, similar to those of the bamboo, which reach 1,5-4 (-7) m in height; these are thin, grey-green in color and 3-5 cm in diameter, furrowed by evident rings which are the scars of fallen leaves and with aerial roots.
The leaves are pinnate, slightly drooping, 1-1.8 m long, with sheaths with a swollen axis, with green crown and thin petiole; leaflets 0,3-1 m long, 3,5-5 cm broad.
The inflorescences are 15-30 × 5-15 cm; with a profile 30 cm long. The male flowers are cream colored with a strong lemon scent, 2.5 mm long; the female ones are globose, cream colored, 7,5 mm long. The flowers are very fragrant and are grouped in the classic triads (a female flower between two male ones).
The fruit is 2.5 cm long, with a prominent spike-shaped tip, when ripe it is orange or scarlet.
The plant flowers almost all year round and the fruits reach maturity about 7.5 months after pollination.

Cultivation –
Areca triandra is an evergreen palm that is harvested from the wild as a food and source of materials. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental plant due to its undoubted aesthetic qualities and is very common in cultivation in tropical countries.
This palm is considered one of the few species of the Areca genus capable of withstanding minimum temperatures around zero. The literature reports cases of plants that survived exposure to -2.5 °C, albeit occasionally and for very short times.
For the cultivation it should be remembered that the young specimens prefer a position in total or partial shade, as the leaves burn easily if exposed to the sun. The adult specimens are able to bear a partial exposure to the sun if grown in very humid environments and with great availability of water.
Due to its characteristics, this palm is widely cultivated as an indoor plant due to its small size and low requirements in terms of luminosity, however in closed environments it is necessary to pay attention to the attacks of the red spider mite which can compromise the health of the leaves and the whole plant.
In open field it can be cultivated also in subtropical zones, where, as mentioned, it can tolerate light frosts.
From a pedological point of view, it prefers a moist but well drained soil; the plant can flower almost all year round, the fruit takes about 7.5 months to ripen.
The plant can form highly sterile hybrids with Areca catechu, and can be useful in breeding programs.
It reproduces very easily by seed which, if fresh, germinates in just one month. Alternatively, it can be reproduced vegetatively, by removing the suckers which arise at the base of the adult ones and which then take root easily.
It is a fast growing plant.

Customs and Traditions –
Areca triandra was described by Roxb. ex Buch.-Ham. and published in Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society in the year 1824.
In the places of origin this palm is characterized by multiple uses.
In food use, the apical shoot, often called palm cabbage, is edible.
However, the collection of this gem leads to the death of the stem because the plant is unable to form lateral branches. If the plant has a solitary stem form, this obviously means the death of the plant.
The seeds are sometimes used as substitutes for those of the areca palm (Areca catechu).
The raw seed has mild narcotic properties, it is widely used in some areas of the tropics as a chew, being mixed with the leaves of a pepper plant (Piper betle), a gum and, often, lime. It should be remembered that betel seeds contain tannins and alkaloids: these stimulate the flow of saliva, accelerate the heart rate and sweating, suppress hunger and offer positive protection against intestinal worms; to these properties are added those of the seeds of Areca triandra, which like those of Areca catechu, contain tannins and alkaloids and therefore accelerate the heart rate and lower the sense of hunger. In addition, these also offer good protection against intestinal parasites.
However, no medicinal uses are known.
Among other uses, it should be remembered that the stems and leaves are locally used for the construction of huts.

Method of Preparation –
The Areca triandra, in the food field, is best known for its leaves which are traditionally used to prepare a mixture of betel nut, a popular chew in many Asian cultures.
The use of this palm in the preparation of betel also involves other ingredients such as areca nut, betel leaf and others.
To prepare the betel, the leaves of the palm are used, which are collected and cleaned. The youngest leaves, which are bright green, are usually used.
The mixture is then chewed. The lime present in the mixture has the function of activating the active ingredients present in the areca nut. The red juice that is produced by chewing is spit out, as it can stain the teeth and surrounding surfaces.
However it should be noted that the use of betel can have adverse health effects. Excessive use can lead to addiction, dental problems, tooth stains and gastrointestinal distress. Additionally, use has been linked to an increased risk of mouth cancer and other medical conditions. Therefore, it is advisable to use betel in moderation or avoid its consumption altogether.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.

Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/231374830/original.jpeg
– http://mediaphoto.mnhn.fr/media/1441309319432Y7wyICwOhTLHzo1A

Attention: The pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not in any way represent a medical prescription; we therefore decline all responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.