Research directed by C. Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service

Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment

Areca catechu (betel nut palm)

Answer

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

n

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=-1, n=-1

n

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

n

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

2

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

n

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2

?=-1, n=0

y

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

n

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

n

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

y

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

n

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

n

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

n

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

n

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

4

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

y

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

n

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

y

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

-4

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

(1) 'Cultivated throughout the settled areas of the Philippines, in some areas spontaneous, possibly a native of the Philippine having been found once spontaneous in the primary forests in Palawan.' (2)No other evidence that the species is naturalized in regions where it has been introduced.

Merrill, E.D. 1925. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants. Manila Bureau of printing.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)'Habitat tropical rainforests. … An easily grown palm for both the tropics and warm sub-tropical areas (it is apparently cold sensitive). ' (2) 'This species is widely grown in the tropics for its fruit, the betel nut…'

(1)http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Areca/catechu.htm (2)http://www.malesiana.tropicals.com.my/tropicals/are-cat.html

2.02

2.03

Approximate limits north to south: 20°N to 5°N - Altitude range: 0 - 900 m (2)USDA zone 10-11

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.tropilab.com/areca-cat.html

2.04

It has been widely cultivated for centuries, so its original home is uncertain, though it is probably Malaysia. 'An easily grown palm for both the tropics and warm sub-tropical areas (it is apparently cold sensitive). '

http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Areca/catechu.htm

2.05

Introduced in several countries.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

3.01

(1) 'Cultivated throughout the settled areas of the Philippines, in some areas spontaneous, possibly a native of the Philippine having been found once spontaneous in the primary forests in Palawan.' (2)No other evidence that the species is naturalized in regions where it has been introduced.

Merrill, E.D. 1925. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants. Manila Bureau of printing.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

No information.

4.05

No evidence.

4.06

(1)Fungus diseases:
Ganoderma lucidum
Phytophthora palmivora [google search reveals that these 2 fungi infect several host.](2)This site lists 88 fungal species to be associated with A. catechu.

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm

4.07

AS WITH ANY PLANT THERE ARE RARE CASES OF ALLERGIES/REACTIONS following consumption, but the nut is consumed regularly by 1 million plus people throughout Asia and the Pacific. (1) 'The seeds are cut into narrow pieces and rolled inside Betel Pepper leaf, rubbed over with lime and chewed by the natives. ...Areca Nut is aromatic and astringent and is said to intoxicate when first taken. The natives chew these nuts all day. ' (2)Long-term use of betel quids has been associated with oral cancers.
(3) 'To understand better the toxicity of betel nuts, a retrospective study was conducted. During the period from January 1988 to December 1995, all cases reported to the PCC-Taiwan as betel nut poisoning were recruited. All relevant information was then analysed. ...The amount ingested was usually low (four patients consumed one betel nut only), while one patient ingested the extract of some 100 betel nuts ...No fatalities occurred in this study and most cases recovered within 24 hr. Betel nut poisoning may cause var

(1)http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/areca056.html#des (2)Long-term use of betel quids has been associated with oral cancers.
(3)Betel nut poisoning in Taiwan
Huang C.-L.; Yang C.-C.; Deng J.-F.
Toxicon, April 1997, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 501-501(1)
Elsevier Science (4)CHOWDHURY I.; CHAKRABORTY P.; GUPTA-BHATTACHARYA S.; CHANDA S.
Clinical & Experimental Allergy, August 1998, vol. 28, no. 08, pp. 977-983(7)
Blackwell Science Ltd, Oxford, UK (Ingenta)

4.08

Unlikely. A thin, tall palm. Old leaves are not pesistent.

4.09

(1)Tolerates shade. (2)). It prefers shade when young, although it does take full sun at quite a young age. (3)Tolerates low to medium light

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Areca/catechu.html (3)http://www.palmcentre.co.uk/shop/palms/AreCat.htm

4.1

(1)Some Sand to Clay Loam, pH range 5.5 to 07 (2)moist, well drained soil, (3)requires rich soil

(1)http://www.neoflora.com/cgi-bin/plant_profile.cgi?plant_sid=26061 (2)http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Areca/catechu.html (3)http://www.palmcentre.co.uk/shop/palms/AreCat.htm

4.11

No evidence - not a vine.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

4.12

No evidence

5.01

A palm belonging to Arecaceae.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

5.02

5.03

5.04

6.01

No evidence

6.02

The large seeds germinate easily

http://www.tropilab.com/areca-cat.html

6.03

No information on hybridization.

6.04

(1) 'the flowers are on a branching spadix -- the female occurs solitarily at the base, and the male is small, white and fragrant and surrounds the solitary female.' (2) 'Areca palm which has unisexual flowers is essentially a cross-fertilized crop. Under field conditions it has been observed that much less of insects are attracted by these flowers probably due to the absence of any sweet secretion. Wind, therefore appears to be the main agent for disposal of arecanut pollen.' (3)The palm is generally cross fertilized

(10http://www.shaman-australis.com/Website/Arecacatechu.htm (2) Murthy, K.N. and Bavappa, K.V.A. 1961. Studies on the dispersal of Arecanut pollen with special reference to the elite seeds. Arecanut journal. 12 (4): 171-180 (3) Murthy, K. N. 1977. Floral and pollination biology of the betel nut palm Areca catechu L. Journal of Plantation Crops, , Vol.5, No.1, pp.35-38.

6.05

'Under field conditions it has been observed that much less of insects are attracted by these flowers probably due to the absence of any sweet secretion. Wind, therefore appears to be the main agent for disposal of arecanut pollen.'

Murthy, K.N. and Bavappa, K.V.A. 1961. Studies on the dispersal of Arecanut pollen with special reference to the elite seeds. Arecanut journal. 12 (4): 171-180

6.06

Propagation by seed.

http://www.tropilab.com/areca-cat.html

6.07

'The palm begins to flower from the third to seventh year.' (added some time for seed maturation).

Murthy, K.N. 1977. Floral and pollination biology of the Betel nut palm Areca catechu. Journal of plantation crops. 5(1): 35 -38.

7.01

Propagules have no means of attachment.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

7.02

(1)A very attractive palm to about 10 m high, with dark green leaves. It has fragrant, scented, white flowers, which form into orange/scarlet fruit about 50 mm (2 inches) long.
(2)A. catechu is mainly established as an ornamental plant, but also provides a nut commonly known as betelnut. The fruit is masticated and chewed with betel leaves (Piper betle) and a small quantity of lime. The chewing of areca nut partially acts as a stimulant, but is also believed to strengthen teeth and gums, as well as to suppress appetite.

(1)http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Areca/catechu.html (2)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

7.03

Seeds are relatively larger - '...containing the seed about the size of an acorn, conical shape with flattened base and brownish in colour externally; internally mottled like a nutmeg…'

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/areca056.html#des

7.04

7.05

7.06

fruit are orange, ovoid berries [bird dispersal implied]

http://www.shaman-australis.com/Website/Arecacatechu.htm

7.07

No means of attachment

7.08

bird dispersal.

8.01

Fruit: orange-yellow when ripe, to 2.5 inch long.
Seed: oval; flattened at one end. Seeds relatively large.

http://www.tropilab.com/areca-cat.html CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

8.02

Seed storage intermediate

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

Ability to regenerate rapidly [meaning is ambiguous]

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

8.05

Don’t know.