Product Description
Habitat and Distribution
Areca montana is native to rainforests in; Java, Malaya, Sumatera, and Thailand.
Description
Areca montana is an small, solitary-stemmed, evergreen palm that can grow up to 5 metres tall. The unbranched stem is up to 5 cm in diameter, topped by a crown of leaves each around 2 metres long. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for its seed, which is seen as an inferior substitute for the betel nut (Areca catechu). It is sometimes planted in graveyards for ornamental purposes
These palms, are endemic to the rain forest of Pailin Cambodia, that borders Thailand, but grows all over the Maylay Peninsula. A medium sized, solitary palm to about 3 m tall, with a small head of leaves. It has a greeen trunk. Trunk to about 8 cm wide. Palms grow just like Areca Triandra. Editing by edric.
Culture
Prefers a warm, sheltered position in a moist soil.
Comments and Curiosities
This taxon is not universally accepted. It is treated as a synonym of Areca triandra Roxb. ex Buch.-Ham., in Henderson, A. (2009). Palms of Southern Asia: 1-197. Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford.
Edible Uses: The seeds are used as an inferior substitute for those of areca palm (Areca catechu). These uses are as follows:-
Seed - raw. The seed has mild narcotic properties, it is widely used in some areas of the tropics as a masticatory, being mixed with the leaves of a pepper plant (Piper betle), a gum and, often, lime . Betel seeds contain tannins and alkaloids - these stimulate saliva flow, accelerate heart and perspiration rates, suppress hunger and offer positive protection against intestinal worms
