Areca catechu plant

The Areca catechu, commonly known as the betel nut palm, is a type of palm plant that thrives in tropical regions across the Pacific, Asia, and certain parts of East Africa. Its leaves are approximately 1.5-2 meters in length, pointed at the tip, and composed of numerous small leaflets.

This tree has the potential to grow to significant heights, typically ranging from 10 to 30 meters, featuring a trunk with a diameter of around 20-30 cm, narrowing at the top. The upper portion of the betel nut palm, known as the crown, typically adopts a rounded shape, displaying a green hue during its youthful phase and transitioning to yellow and eventually red as the fruits reach maturity.

The cultivation of the betel nut palm is widespread in India and Sri Lanka, where the local population utilizes it and refers to it as 'adakka' in the Malayalam language. The tradition of consuming betel leaves, betel nuts, and lime is closely associated with this palm, especially among the elderly.

The fruit of the tree possesses medicinal potential. The shoots of Areca catechu, along with those from Areca Borneensis and Areca Triandra, are suitable for consumption. The shoots of Areca Hutchinsoniana serve as a means of removing parasites. Additionally, boiled husks of betel nuts find application in treating wounds.

The betel nut fruit exhibits an ovoid shape, resembling a chicken egg, with dimensions around 3-5 cm x 5-10 cm. The exterior of the fruit is covered in fibers or strands, and it encases an edible content within its shell. The fruit begins as green during its initial stage, transitions to yellow during ripening, and finally assumes a red hue when fully matured.
Areca catechu plant

Palm species Euterpe precatoria

The palm Euterpe precatoria Mart. (acaí-do-Amazonas) belongs to the family Arecaceae, occurring in the western and central Brazilian Amazon and to within borders of the Amazon of Peru, Brazil, Colombia.

The species occurs in floodplains, on land and in swampland soils. The açai palm often grows alongside other palm trees, typically alongside another palm from the Amazon, the buriti (Mauritia flexuosa).

Its fruit, which is very appreciated in the Amazon region, produces pulp that is consumed in fresh form. Its production is carried out almost exclusively by extractive farmers. Its roots are the source of medicinal preparations to treat malaria, hepatitis and other diseases.

Euterpe precatoria is a solitary palm, which grows to a height of up to 20 m. The sheaths of the 8-18 pinnate leaves remain closed. Infloreseences are born axillary and are infrafoliar at anthesis. Each individual may produce one to four inflorescences in succession during one flowering period. The inflorescence bud has a tubular, green prophyll which splits abaxially as the bud expands.

Plants of this species grow in the forest (sub-canopy) in environments with both favorable and unfavorable soils, frequently forming small groups of plants, between 10 and 20 individuals, or among 50–250 plants/ha. It also occurs in lower densities, around 2–3 trees/ha, in places with rainfall in the range of 1,900–4,000 mm per year and average annual temperatures of 26 °C.
Palm species Euterpe precatoria

Eugeissona tristis (Pokok bertam)

Eugeissona is a big clump-forming palms genus of flowering plants in palm family native to Malaysia, Borneo and Thailand. The six monoecious species provide a wide range of local uses and are commonly called Bertam or Wild Bornean Sago.

Eugeissona tristis palm belongs to Lepidocaryoideae sub-family, which commonly flourishes in disturbed, open areas up to 800 m above sea level.

The bertam has large, brown scaly fruits (shaped like cloves of garlic, akin to the fruits of the salak tree to which the palm is related). Leaf rachis to 3 meter long, with to 100 regularly arranged, linear leaflets per side. These with spines on upper surface.

The leaves make excellent thatch. It is rarely seen in cultivation and looks its best in tropical areas where there is plenty of sun and water.

The fronds of Bertam usually use as wall of chalets or resorts. Moreover, fruit eaten fresh can relieve from fever, the sap from the stem is used for insect sting. The leaves are used as thatch and the leaf for fish traps and fishing poles.
Eugeissona tristis (Pokok bertam)