Calyptrocalyx spicatus (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Calyptrocalyx spicatus (Lamk) Blume

Family: Palmae

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: hena-hena (Ternate), hua alang (Ambon), pinang utan besar (Moluccas).

Distribution

Indonesia (Moluccas).

Uses

In the Moluccas the seeds are regarded as the best substitute for those of Areca catechu L. The wood is hard, easy to split and fairly durable, but is not much used. The palm is occasionally planted for ornamental purposes.

Observations

A medium-sized to large, solitary, pleonanthic, monoecious palm; stem slender, 7-12 m long. Leaves drooping, 3-3.5 m long; sheaths with a scarcely developed crownshaft, green; blade pinnate, leaflets many, narrowly lanceolate, pointed. Inflorescence borne among the leaves, up to 2 m long, protandrous, unbranched, spicate, with spirally arranged triads of sessile flowers; male flower with 3 sepals, petals 3, about twice as long as the sepals; female flower more or less globular; ovary 1-locular with a single ovule. Fruit an ovoid drupe, about 3 cm long, bright orange, with vestiges of the stigma at the apex. C. spicatus thrives in shaded and wind-protected locations in lowland rain forest, and prefers well-drained soils rich in organic matter. Seeds germinate in 1-2 months after sowing.

Selected sources

15, 30, 33, 34, 62, 68, 71.

Authors

M.S.M. Sosef