Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 27, 2026

Areca triandra

Areca triandra, the wild areca palm, is a palm which is often used as ornamental plant. It is native to India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It is also reportedly naturalized in Hawaii, Panama, Sri Lanka and southern China. As a wild plant, it commonly occurs in littoral forest in Southeast Asia.

Last revised
Jul 27, 2026
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Areca triandra
In Kerala, India
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Areca
Species:
A. triandra
Binomial name
Areca triandra
Synonyms2
  • Areca aliceae W.Hill ex F.Muell.
  • Areca borneensis Becc.
  • Areca humilis Blanco ex H.Wendl.
  • Areca laxa Buch.-Ham.
  • Areca nagensis Griff.
  • Areca polystachya (Miq.) H.Wendl.
  • Nenga nagensis (Griff.) Scheff.
  • Ptychosperma polystachyum Miq.

Areca triandra, the wild areca palm,3 is a palm which is often used as ornamental plant. It is native to India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It is also reportedly naturalized in Hawaii, Panama, Sri Lanka and southern China.2 As a wild plant, it commonly occurs in littoral forest in Southeast Asia.4

  • Areca triandra Roxb. ex Buch.-Ham., Hawaii
    Areca triandra Roxb. ex Buch.-Ham., Hawaii
  • Areca triandra Roxb. ex Buch.-Ham.
    Areca triandra Roxb. ex Buch.-Ham.

Ethnobotany

A name for this palm is sla: préi in Khmer. In Cambodia, the nut may be chewed with betel in a quid, while the timber is used for temporary constructions, such as huts.4

References

References

  1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2018). "Areca triandra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018 e.T111452558A136140625. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T111452558A136140625.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Areca triandra Roxb. ex Buch.-Ham". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  3. "Areca triandra". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  4. Pauline Dy Phon (2000). Plants Utilised In Cambodia/Plantes utilisées au Cambodge. Phnom Penh: Imprimerie Olympic. p. 49.
The photo shows a tall tree with a thin, light-brown trunk. There is a sign attached to it with the name of the plant and its country of origin - Sumatra
In Aswan Botanical Garden, Egypt source ↗