Betel Nut Palms

[Walter John]

Found these nice pics on a search on the web, thought i'd share.

[Walter John]

and.....

[MattyB]

Thanks Wal.  That second photo is a wal of palms.....uh....a lot I mean.  Anyway, I'm not to bummed that we can't grow this palm in Southern California.  I find Ptychosperma elegans look an acceptable substitute.  I am bummed that we can't grow the dwarf form of A. catechu!  That is just a sick palm!  Sick means good Wal.

[paulgila]

those are great photos!palmgrover has an areca catechu indoors that he's been growing for a few years now.i'm jealous.

thanks for clarifying,matt,for those of us who've been over 30 for more than 2 days.

[MattyB]

Ha.  Not everyone is as hep a cat as you Paul.  And some people live in the land of OZ and might not be keen to our lingo.  Oooooooo, I think you just got moted!

[BS Man about Palms]

moted????

[MattyB]

Root word = demoted?

[Dypsisdean]

Not to be confused with promoted.

[Trópico]

(MattyB @ Dec. 08 2006,00:23)

QUOTE

Thanks Wal.  That second photo is a wal of palms.....uh....a lot I mean.  Anyway, I'm not to bummed that we can't grow this palm in Southern California.  I find Ptychosperma elegans look an acceptable substitute.  I am bummed that we can't grow the dwarf form of A. catechu!  That is just a sick palm!  Sick means good Wal.

Nothing will match an A. catechu... nothing!

[spockvr6]

(MattyB @ Dec. 08 2006,00:23)

QUOTE

 I find Ptychosperma elegans look an acceptable substitute.

You are sure stretching the meaning of "acceptable" there MattyB!

I have both palms and there is no comparison in beauty!  

The Betel Nut just reeks of the tropics.

I sure hope I can keep mine alive.......

[BobbyinNY]

You are sure stretching the meaning of "acceptable" there MattyB!

I have both palms and there is no comparison in beauty!  

The Betel Nut just reeks of the tropics.

I sure hope I can keep mine alive.......  

They do look similar, but I think the Betel Nut has a way more curvy trunk.

[spockvr6]

(BobbyinNY @ Dec. 08 2006,10:15)

QUOTE

They do look similar, but I think the Betel Nut has a way more curvy trunk.

In person, especially when Betel Nuts are not giants like those pictured above, there is absolutely no mistaking one for the other.  

And oh....that bright green trunk and crownshaft!

[BobbyinNY]

And oh....that bright green trunk and crownshaft!

Yeah, that's true Larry.... The P. Elegans has a much darker crownshat.... The betel nut is more like the color of a Royal or Adonidia

[spockvr6]

(BobbyinNY @ Dec. 08 2006,10:30)

QUOTE

The betel nut is more like the color of a Royal or Adonidia

And...that deep dark green goes all the way to the ground!  

Of couse, as the palm gets very old like the ones above, the trunk will eventually gray.

And, the deep dark green coloring that these palms have is unlike any other palm I have.....much more strinking that, dare I say it, even my favorite Royal.

[Trópico]

Simply, no match!

[MattyB]

I'm just trying to psych. myself out so I don't get too bummed about not being able to grow them.  Thanks for all the help guys.  

[spockvr6]

(MattyB @ Dec. 08 2006,12:45)

QUOTE

I'm just trying to psych. myself out so I don't get too bummed about not being able to grow them.  Thanks for all the help guys.  

MattyB-

Nothing good ever comes from a lie....especially when that lie is told to oneself  

[Jeff Searle]

(Trópico @ Dec. 08 2006,12:30)

QUOTE

Simply, no match!

Now thats a great picture. They all are for that matter. Where was this taken?

Jeff

[bgl]

Jeff,

That's a definite Hawaii picture! I don't know where it was taken, but if I had to guess I'd say Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden on Oahu.

Bo-Göran

[MattyB]

Nothing good ever comes from a lie....especially when that lie is told to oneself

 

(Matty's eye starts to twitch.  His lip begins to curl at one side and his head is starting to wobble like those bobble heads in the rear shelf of a car.  His world is begining to crumble around him.....somethings gotta give)

[Walter John]

Here's one that's so sick, even Matty B will go out and buy a few.

[bgl]

Looks like the palms are ready for a sneak attack....let's take over this town at nightfall....

[spockvr6]

(bgl @ Dec. 08 2006,19:50)

QUOTE

Looks like the palms are ready for a sneak attack....let's take over this town at nightfall....

Im right by your side Bo

That photo is phenomenal.

[BS Man about Palms]

The Betel Nut Brigade..............

[happ]

(Wal @ Dec. 08 2006,19:36)

QUOTE

Here's one that's so sick, even Matty B will go out and buy a few.

Fantastico Wal  

A forest of betel nuts just outside the back door  

[Al in Kona]

Yeah the palm has a 'cool' look to it but from some of the above comments I'd wonder if the fruit from this palm is not playing a part in your love of it!!    :laugh:

Now, as for the dwarf or compact form of Areca catechu, I'd completely agree, it is a 'hot' palm.

Matty B. - did I use those terms correctly - 'cool' and 'hot'?

Here's a pic of my compact form . . .

[gsn]

"Matty B. - did I use those terms correctly - 'cool' and 'hot'"

Al,

Yes you did if you were born in the 50's like me!!!

[Scott]

Matt....  You've got that greenhouse.... go to it, man! It'd be coooooool! You could always pull a Bobby and bring it indoors!

[MattyB]

Nice work Al!  Your compactareca is bitchin'!

[Trópico]

I agree with you Al, these were really hot in flower and seed! One (or two) of them is (are) the mother plant of my two A. catechus.

[aussiearoids]

Here is a really bent Betle , got blown over in a Cyclone several years ago .

[Zac in NC]

(Dypsisdean @ Dec. 08 2006,02:17)

QUOTE

Not to be confused with promoted.

Or smoted.

And to make this not a worthless post, beautiful bouncing, bitchin', Betels. Massive props for my alliterative skillz.

Zac

[Dypsisdean]

Well Wal,

You straightened me out on the derivation of "Bangalow." Maybe you (or someone else) can help me with "Betel." What's a "Betel?"

I googled it and the first thing that came up was:

Betel International...................a drug rehabilitation organisation.

Since 'Bangalow' has nothing to do with 'Bungalow,' am I correct in assuming 'Betel' has nothing to do with "Beetle?"

[ZoneTenNut]

(Wal @ Dec. 08 2006,19:36)

QUOTE

Here's one that's so sick, even Matty B will go out and buy a few.

What I wouldn't give to have a little grove like that out in the back!  

[Palmgrover]

As pohonkelapa has said,  I have a Betel nut growing inside now for a couple years .

It is one of my most treasured palms.

In fact I have pohonkelapa to thank for this wonderful palm, for it was a gift from him. Thanks paul for all youve done

[iwan]

(Dypsisdean @ Dec. 10 2006,15:53)

QUOTE

Well Wal,

You straightened me out on the derivation of "Bangalow." Maybe you (or someone else) can help me with "Betel." What's a "Betel?"

I googled it and the first thing that came up was:

Betel International...................a drug rehabilitation organisation.

Since 'Bangalow' has nothing to do with 'Bungalow,' am I correct in assuming 'Betel' has nothing to do with "Beetle?"

Dean,

This should answer your question, see the section on chewing,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betel

[paulgila]

palmgrover you posted something!

are you feeling ok?