148 PHILIPPINE PALMS 
are about 3 meters in length. The Manobos use the fruit as a 
substitute for the betel nut. The sap is also collected and used 
as a beverage of an inferior quality. 
ARECA HUTCHINSONIANA Becc. PISA. 
Local names: Bunga, pisa (Moro). 
A pinnate-leafed palm with a diameter of about 15 centi- 
meters. The immature fruit is white; the mature, yellow. 
ARECA IPOT Becc. (Plate VI). BUNGANG-IPOT. 
Local names: Biungang-ipot, ipod, ipot, mangipod, saksik, saksig 
(Tagalog). 
This palm somewhat resembles a dwarfed Areca catechu in 
habit. It never exceeds 4 meters in height and is often much 
smaller than this. The infructescence is very different from 
that of the above species, the fruits being densely crowded. It 
is common in the towns surrounding Mount Banajao, in the 
provinces of Laguna and Tayabas, Luzon, in various provinces 
in southern Luzon, and in Polillo. It is chiefly planted for 
ornamental purposes, although the fruit is sometimes used as 
a substitute for the true betel nut (Areca catechu), to which it 
is, however, considered much inferior. 
ARECA VIDALIANA Becc. 
Local names: Boga, pita (Palawan). 
This is a very slender palm widely distributed in Palawan 
and occurring also in Mindoro. Its trunks do not exceed 3 or 4 
centimeters in diameter and it rarely exceeds 3 meters in height. 
It is a sylvan species, growing at low and medium altitudes, 
and is decidedly ornamental, although nowhere utilized. 
ARECA WHITFORDII Becc. BUNGANG-GUBAT. 
This species is allied to Areca catechu, but has thicker trunks, 
about 20 centimeters in diameter, and differs in numerous other 
ways. It grows in the semi-swampy forests in eastern Min- 
doro, where it is known as btngang-gtbat, literally “wild 
bunga.” No special economic use has been reported. 
Genus ARENGA Labillardiére 
This genus is represented by four species, of which the sugar 
palm is by far the most common and widely distributed and the 
most valuable economically. 
Conspectus of the species. 
a’. Leaflets elongate, narrow, having smooth or remotely and minutely 
toothed margins, the secondary nerves parallel, all starting from the 
base. 
