252 



1. Akeca, L. 



Large or small palms either single or many stemmed, erect, 

 Tinged by scars of fallen leaves. Leaves pinnate. Inflorescence 

 produced below the leaves, consisting of spathe and spadix, the 

 former enclosing the latter. Spadix Ijranches numerous, slender, 

 terminal portions male, with a few female flowers at the base of 

 each brancli. Male flowers asymmetric, very small: sepals ovate, 

 small ; petals lanceolate often ribbed obliquely ; stamens 3 to 6 in 

 jiumber: anthers attached l)y base. Female floirers much larger; 

 sepals ovate, flat with a circular outline; petals slightly longer than 

 sepals; stigmas 3, small; ovule, erect, basal. Fruit ovoid-oblong 

 tapering towards each end : stigma terminal. Seed ovoid, trunc- 

 ate, that is as though cut off at the end ; albumen ruminate. 



Species 10, Indo-Malaya and Australia. Eepresented in 

 Gardens 4. 



Tlie four species of Areca represented in the Gardens are, 

 with tlie exception of .4. iriandra, Boxh., very alike in general ap- 

 pearance. This renders it somewhat difficult to make a key with- 

 out using much technical detail. However an attempt has been 

 made to separate the species on leaf and fruit characters. 

 Single stemmed. 



Leaflets about 30 pairs, placed fairly 



closely on the rhachis. fruit ovoid . . 1. A. Catccliu 

 Leaflets about 20 pairs, placed fairly 

 widely apart on rhachis. fruit spindle- 

 shaped . . . . . . . . . . 2. A. concinna 



Leaflets about 40 pairs, placed close to- 

 gether on rhachis, fruit obovate . . 3. .4. glandiformis 

 Several stemmed . . . . . . . . 4. .4. iriandra 



1. Areca Catechu, L. Sp. I'l. 1189. (Tinang or Betel Xut Palm.) 



■ Stem. — Solitary, from 40 to 60 ft. in height when fully grown; 

 diameter 8-12 inches, straight, cylindric, grey, of equal thickness 

 throughout. Croirn small in comparison with height. Leaves 4- 

 6 ft. in length, spreading ; leaflets many, 1-2 ft. long, linear, many 

 veined, having 2 to 3 prominent ribs, lower leaflets acuminate, 

 upper prgemorse that is as though the end were bitten oft', toi)most 

 leaflets short and broad. SJieath, long, smooth, green. Spathe simple, 

 flattened, glabrous, produced below the leaves. Spadix, shortly 

 peduncled, 12-18 in. long, branched at the base in a paniculate 

 manner ;■ branches filiform, liearing pendulous male s])ikes at their 

 extremities. Male floirers small, disposed more or less in two rows; 

 sepals 3, very small, and triangular: ])etals longer, oblong, rigid, 

 marked with fine lines; stamens six. Female floirers 1-3 at the 

 bases of the spadix branches or in their axils, larger than the male ; 

 sepals 7^ in. long, ovate, obtuse ; petals longer than sepals. Fruit 

 ovoid, orange or scarlet, 1-2 inches long. Seed ^ inch in diameter, 

 •ovoid. 



This palm is mucli cultivated throughout Trop. Asia, Malaya, 

 etc. Its origin is not known as it is always found as a cultivated 

 plant only. 



