Betel palm - Areca catechu

Common Name :	Betel palm, Betel nut, Areca palm, Areca nut palm.
Botanical Name :	Areca catechu
Family :	Arecaceae
Bangla Name :	Shupari.
Photo Taken :	Bangladesh, India.

Betel palm (or Areca nut) is believed to be native from Philippines and later naturalised in many countries including Bangladesh, India, China, and Islands in Caribbean and Pacific Ocean. It has other common names such as Betel nut, Areca palm, Areca nut palm, etc. Binomial name of the plant is Areca catechu. It belongs to the plant family Arecaceae.

Betel palm (Areca catechu) is a tall growing plant which grows very well near the coastal area. This plant has only one stem (similar to palm plants). Stem is a bit thicker than a bamboo. It can grow up to 20 meter in height. Leafs appear at the tip of the plant and form like a crown. Each leaf is having long linear leafs oppositely arranged at both side of the stem.

Betel palm (Areca catechu) flowers appear as a cluster. Each flower from the cluster is having three bracts (yellowish-greenish coloured). It has plenty of stamens having bright white colour (with brown coloured filament). Flower buds look like a capsule. Although the flower looks very beautiful, but they always remain hidden as it blooms very high in the tree.

Fruits are nut and having a shape of oval (or round). Ripe fruits are having a colour of yellowish or fire-red. Fruit is having a round nut inside surrounded by fibers. People use this nut with Betel leaf to chew (this is known as Paan in Indian subcontinent). That's why in many countries this plant is being cultivated commercially.

In Bangladesh most people do not cultivate this for commercial purpose. But they plant this plant around the house when they have some spare land. Those plants full fill the family's need. They sell the Betel nuts only when they have surplus.

Photos of these Betel palm (Areca catechu) were taken from Bangladesh (in April 2013) and India (September 2015). In Bangladesh Betel nut is known as Shupari (সুপারি).


This article has written by Lonely Traveler,
for the blog https://icflora.blogspot.com/