Areca palm flower or Areca catechu, The Year 1693

(This is an authentic antique print and not a modern reprint)

A rare and decorative exotic botanical print of a Areca palm flower, labeled in Latin, Malayalam, Arabic, and Sanskrit. The twelve volume Hortus Malabaricus (Garden of Malabar) was published between 1678 and 1703 as a result of collaboration between the former governor of Malabar, local Ayuverdic doctors, physicians, botanists, translators and artisans from India and the Netherlands. It is the first comprehensive record of the plant wealth of India and the medicinal uses of those plants.

Areca catechu is grown for its commercially important seed crop, the areca nut. The areca nut when chewed, are intoxicating and slightly addictive. Chewing areca (betel) nuts are popular throughout some Asian countries, such as China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, and India and the Pacific Islands, notably Papua New Guinea. Areca nuts in Taiwan will usually contain artificial additives such as limestone powder. The areca palm is also used as an interior landscaping species. It is often used in large indoor areas such as malls and hotels. It will not fruit or reach full size if grown in this way. In India the dry, fallen leaves are collected and hot-pressed into disposable palm leaf plates and bowls.

The publication of the twelve volumes of Hortus Malabaricus (Garden of Malabar) is believed to be the earliest comprehensive published work on the flora of Asia and the tropics. The volumes were published between 1678 and 1703 and was a product of the collaboration of the former governor of Malabar, Hendrik van Rheede, and a large number of ….

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