Areca whitfordii (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Areca whitfordii Becc.

Family: Palmae

• Philippines: bungan-gubat (Tagalog).

The Philippines (Luzon, Mindoro).

The seeds are used as a substitute for those of areca palm ( Areca catechu L.).

A small to medium-sized, pleonanthic, monoecious palm up to 10 m tall; stem up to 20 cm in diameter. Leaves about 2.5 m long; sheaths forming a prominent, somewhat swollen crownshaft; blade pinnate, with falcate-acuminate leaflets, leaflets with 2-3 prominent ribs, median leaflets about 100 cm × 4.5-5 cm. Inflorescence appearing on the trunk below the crown leaves, 3 times branched, spiciform; spikes numerous, with 1-2 female flowers at base and many male ones above, flowers sessile; male flowers unknown; of the female flowers the sepals ovate, petals longer than the sepals, with a broad triangular point; fruiting perianth cup-shaped, about 15 mm long. Fruit an ellipsoid drupe, 4-5.5 cm × 1.8-2 cm, with a truncate apex, brownish. Seed ovoid-ellipsoid, 2.5-3 cm long, with ruminate endosperm. A. whitfordii grows in semi-swampy areas in the lowland; it may be common in river swamps.

8, 10, 34.

M.S.M. Sosef