253 



The fruits are much used by the natives for chewing purposes 

 and impart the red appearance to the lips and teeth when being 

 masticated with betel leaves. 



It has certain medicinal properties, and is chiefly used as an 

 .■astringent and vermifuge. It is also used as a medicine in the 

 treatment of worms in dogs. 



There are also two specimens of a yellow form of Areca 

 Catechu, L. This form is quite yellowish in appearance and pro- 

 duces yellow fruits. It can be seen in the Palm A'alley in close 

 proximity to the other species of Areca. 



2. Areca concinna, Thw. Enum. 328 (1864). 



<^7e/».— Solitary, from 8-12 ft. in height, 1-3 inches in dia- 

 meter, cylindric, green. Crown — Larger than in A, Catechu. 

 Leaves 3-3^ feet in length, spreading; leaflets 1| to 2 feet in 

 length, 2-3 inches broad, lanceolate, sickle shaped, acuminate, al- 

 most glabrous, lower simple, one ribbed, upper 2-3 ribbed, topmost 

 pair of pinnae very broad, toothed at the margin. Sheath fairly 

 long; up to IS inches. Spatlie, flattened. Spadir up to 1 foot in 

 length, shortly peduncled, paniculately branched, branches filiform 

 bearing male flowers in pendulous spikes at their extremities, 

 female flowers borne in axils of branches or at their bases. Male 

 flotoers — arranged in two rows, small ; sepals oblong, obtuse ; petals 

 nearly three times as long as sepals, obliquely ovate-lanceolate, 

 acuminate, ribbed or striped ; stamens 6. Female Rovers very 

 small ; sepals form an unequally lohed cup of very tiny dimensions, 

 petals, ovate oblong, obtuse. Fruit 1\ inches long, almost spindle 

 shaped and bearing a protuberance in the centre, scarlet. 



Habitat. — Ceylon. 



The fruits of this Areca are also chewed with betel and are 

 generallv obtained from wild specimens. Only small specimens up 

 to about 6 ft. in height are present in the Gardens collection, 



3. Areca glandiformis, Lam. Encyl. 1. 2-11. 



Stern. — Solitary, up to Id ft. high, cylindric, annulate, dia- 

 meter 4 to 6 inches. Crou-n medium. Leaves produced at top of 

 stem, 4 to 6 or more feet in length, dark green ; leaflets several, 

 reduplicate, that is doubled back at the edges, sub-opposite, 1| to 

 2 ft. in length, 1^ to 2 inches broad, linear lanceolate, acuminate, 

 glabrous, green above, slightly glaucous below, nerves several, pale. 

 Spadir prodiTced below the leaves, monoecious, pendulous, peduncle 

 about 4 inches long, several branches. Male flowers distichous, 

 small; stamens 6. Female flowers larger than male; calyx lobes 

 coriaceous, ovate, acute or acuminate, stigmas 3. Fruit longly- 

 ohovoid, glabrous, cuspidate, olive coloured at first, turning later 

 to red. 



Habitat. — Moluccas. 



The specimens of this species present in the Gardens are to 

 be found in the Palm Yallev. Xo specimen is at present more 

 than 20 ft. in height. 



