Areca catechu

Mehmud, Selim & Roy, Himu, 2021, Diversity and distribution of palms (Arecaceae) in Assam, India, Check List 17 (1), pp. 69-93 : 70-72

Areca catechu L.

Diagnostic characters. Solitary, erect, unarmed palm, 20 m tall; internodes grey-black, 10–16 cm long and 5–8 cm in diameter. Leaf pinnate, 1.5–3 m long; sheath 1–1.5

m long; crownshaft green. Inflorescence branched, inter- foliolar below the leaf; spathe 60–72 cm long, light yel- lowish, tip acute; rachis with many rachilla, 30–35 cm long; pistillate flowers at base and staminate at terminal. Staminate flowers with 6 stamens. Fruit ovoid, red, 3 cm long, and 2.5 cm wide.

Flowering and fruiting. Throughout the year.

Distribution. Throughout Assam.

Vernacular names. Tamul, Gua (Assamese); Gua, Su- pari (Bengali).

Uses. As food and masticator (nut), broom (leaf), disposable dish (leaf sheath), hut (mature dry stem).

Material examined. INDIA • Assam, Kamrup Metro, Guwahati, Chandmari ; 26°11′44″N, 091°46′57″E; 06 May 2018; S. Mehmud leg. ; CH.