The difference between royal palm and false betel nut

1. Leaf Difference

The leaves of the royal palm are pinnately divided, arched and often drooping, about 4 to 5 meters long, with up to 250 pinnae on each side of the rachis, arranged in 4 rows, linear-lanceolate, gradually becoming pointed at the apex, with two shallow fissures at the apex, about 90 to 100 cm long and 3 to 5 cm wide.

The leaves of the false betel nut are pinnately divided, 2 to 3 meters long, with pinnae arranged in 2 rows, linear-lanceolate, up to 45 cm long, 1.2 to 2.5 cm wide, gradually sharp at the tip, entire or notched, and green on the leaf surface.

2. Flower Differences

The royal palm inflorescence is up to 1.5 meters long and has many branches. The spathe looks like a baseball bat before flowering, and the flowers are very small, 6 to 7 mm long.

A panicle inflorescence grows below and above the false betel leaf sheath, which is 30 to 40 cm long, branched, and has two sheath-like spathes, 45 cm long. The flowers are white, with three petals that are obliquely ovate-oblong.

3. Fruit Difference

The royal palm fruit is obovate or nearly spherical, about 1.3 cm long and 1 cm in diameter, and dark red or lavender in color.

The fruit of the false betel nut is ovoid, red, and 12 to 14 mm long.