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Areca catechu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Areca palm

Fruiting specimen

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae

(unranked): Angiosperms

(unranked): Monocots

(unranked): Commelinids

Order: Arecales

Family: Arecaceae

Genus: Areca

Species: A. catechu

Binomial name
Areca catechu
L.[1]

Synonyms[2]

 Areca faufel Gaertn.


 Areca hortensis Lour.
 Areca cathechu Burm.f.
 Sublimia areca Comm. ex Mart.
 Areca himalayana Griff. ex
H.Wendl.

 Areca nigra Giseke ex H.Wendl.


 Areca macrocarpa Becc.

Areca catechu is a species of palm which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts
of east Africa. The palm is believed to have originated in the Philippines,[1] but is widespread in
cultivation and is considered naturalized in
southern China (Guangxi, Hainan,Yunnan), Taiwan, India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Sri
Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, many of the
islands in the Pacific Ocean, and also in the West Indies.[2][3][4]
The species has many common names[1] including the areca palm, areca nut palm, betel
palm, Indian nut, Pinang
palm, Telugu: పపప ,Tagalog: bunga, Indonesia/Malay: pinang,[5] Malayalam: పపపపప adakka, K
annada: పపపపప Adike, (in Tamil "kamuhu", in Sinhala "Puwak" ). This palm is called the betel
tree because its fruit, the areca nut, is often chewed along with the betel leaf, a leaf from a vine
of the familyPiperaceae.
Areca is derived from a local name from the Malabar Coast of India and catechu is from another
Malay name for this palm, caccu.

Contents
[hide]

 1Growth
 2Characteristics
o 2.1Chemical composition
 3Uses
 4Gallery
 5References
 6External links

Growth[edit]
Areca catechu is a medium-sized and palm tree, growing straight to 20 m tall, with a trunk 10–
15 cm in diameter. The leaves are 1.5–2 m long, pinnate, with numerous, crowded leaflets. It is
also known as puga in Sanskrit,"puwak" in sinhala and supari in Marathi and Gujarati. Normally
areca catechu known as pinang tree in Malaysia
Characteristics[edit]

19th century drawing of Areca catechu

Areca catechu is grown for its commercially important seed crop, the areca nut.
Tanjung Pinang, Pangkal Pinang cities in Indonesia, Indonesian province of Jambi (jambi or
jambe is areca in Javanese, Sundanese, Balinese, and Old Malay), Penang Island, off the west
coast ofPeninsular Malaysia, Fua Mulaku in the Maldives, Guwahati in Assam, and coastal areas
of Keralaand Karnataka in India, are some of the places named after a local name for areca nut.
Actually, there are numerous city and areal names in Indonesia and Malaysia using the words
pinang orjambe. This to shows how important areca nut is in the Austronesian civilization,
especially in the modern day Indonesia or Malaysia.
Chemical composition[edit]
The seed contains alkaloids such as arecaidine and arecoline, which, when chewed, are
intoxicating and slightly addictive. Areca palms are grown
in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and many other Asian countries for their
seeds.
The seed also contains condensed tannins (procyanidins) called arecatannins[6] which are
carcinogenic.

Uses[edit]
Main article: Areca nut
The areca nut is also popular for chewing throughout some Asian countries, such
as China (mainly Hunan), Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, and India and
the Pacific, notably Papua New Guinea, where it is very popular. Chewing areca nut is quite
popular among working classes in Taiwan. The nut itself can be addictive and has direct link
to oral cancers.[7][8] Areca nuts in Taiwan will usually contain artificial additives such as limestone
powder. The extract of Areca catechu has been shown to haveantidepressant properties
in rodents,[9] but it may be addictive.[10]
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. Indoors, it is a slow growing, low
water, high light plant that is sensitive to spider mites and occasionally mealybugs.
In India the dry, fallen leaves are collected and hot-pressed into disposable palm leaf plates and
bowls.[11]
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Areca nut
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the practice of chewing the areca nut, see Paan and Betel.
"Supari" redirects here. For the 2003 film, see Supari (film).

Areca nut

Areca nuts hanging from the palm

A ripe areca nut.


Areca nut plantations in India

The areca nut (/ˈærᵻkə/ or /əˈriːkə/) is the seed of the areca palm (Areca catechu), which grows
in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. This seed is commonly referred to
as betel nut so it is easily confused with betel leaves that are often used to wrap it (paan). The
term areca originated from a South Asian word[1] during the 16th century, when Dutch and
Portuguese sailors took the nut to Europe. Consumption has many harmful effects on health and
is carcinogenic to humans. Various compounds present in the nut, most
importantly arecoline (the primary psychoactive ingredient which is similar to nicotine), contribute
to histologic changes in the oral mucosa. As with chewing tobacco, its use is discouraged
by preventive efforts.

Contents
[hide]

 1Description
 2Tradition
 3Effects on health
o 3.1Use during pregnancy
 4Modern-day consumption
 5Vernacular names
 6References
 7External links

Description[edit]
The areca nut is not a true nut, but rather a fruit categorized as a berry. It is commercially
available in dried, cured and fresh forms. When the husk of the fresh fruit is green, the nut inside
is soft enough to be cut with a typical knife. In the ripe fruit, the husk becomes yellow or orange
and, as it dries, the fruit inside hardens to a wood-like consistency. At that stage, the areca nut
can only be sliced using a specialscissors-like cutter.
Usually for chewing, a few slices of the nut are wrapped in a betel leaf along with calcium
hydroxide (slaked lime) and may include clove,cardamom, catechu (kattha) or other spices for
extra flavouring. Betel leaf has a fresh, peppery taste, but it can also be bitter to varying degrees
depending on the variety.
Areca nuts are chewed with betel leaf for their effects as a mild stimulant,[2] causing a warming
sensation in the body and slightly heightened alertness, although the effects vary from person to
person.
The areca nut contains the tannins arecatannin and gallic acid; a fixed oil gum; a
little terpineol; lignin; various saline substances; and three main alkaloids —
arecoline, arecaidine and guvacine — all of which have vasoconstricting properties.[3] The betel
leaf chewed along with the nut contains eugenol, another vasoconstrictor. Tobacco leaf is often
added to the mixture, thereby adding the effect of nicotine.[4]
In parts of India, Sri Lanka and southern China, areca nuts are not only chewed along with betel
leaf, but are also used in the preparation of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines.
Powdered areca nut is used as a constituent in some dentifrices.[5] Other traditional uses include
the removal of tapeworms and other intestinal parasites by swallowing a few teaspoons of
powdered areca nut, drunk as adecoction, or by taking tablets containing the extracted
alkaloids.[5] According to traditional Ayurvedic medicine, chewing areca nut and betel leaf is a
good remedy against bad breath.[6][unreliable source?] Diplomat Edmund Roberts noted that Chinese
people would mix areca nut with Uncaria gambir during his visit to China in the 1830s.[7] After
chewing a betelnut, the red residue from chewing the betelnut, buai pekpek, is generally spat out
and is considered an eyesore. This has led many places to ban chewing buai as many people
spit the pekpek on the ground rather than in a spit cup or waste receptacle.[citation needed]

Tradition[edit]
Main article: Paan

Areca nut and betel leaf consumption in the world

Chewing the mixture of areca nut and betel leaf is a tradition, custom or ritual which dates back
thousands of years in much of the geographical areas from South Asia eastward to the Pacific. It
constitutes an important and popular cultural activity in manyAsian and Oceanic countries,
including Pakistan, the Maldives, India, Nepal, Sri
Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma(Myanmar), China, Laos, Thailand,
Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Palau, Yap, Guam,Papua
New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It is not known how or when the areca nut and
the betel leaf were first combined into one psychoactive drug. Archaeological evidence from
Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines suggests they have been used in tandem for at least
4000 years.[8]
In Vietnam, the areca nut and the betel leaf are such important symbols of love and marriage that
in Vietnamese the phrase "matters of betel and areca" (chuyện trầu cau) is synonymous with
marriage. The tradition of chewing areca nuts starts the talk between the groom's parents and
the bride's parents about the young couple's marriage. Therefore, the leaves and juices are used
ceremonially in Vietnamese weddings. The folk tale explaining the origin of this Vietnamese
tradition is a good illustration of the belief that the combination of areca nut and the betel leaf is
ideal to the point they are practically inseparable, like an idealized married couple.[9]
Display of the items usually included in a chewing session: The betel leaves are folded in different ways
according to the country and most have a little calcium hydroxide daubed inside. Slices of the dry areca nut
are on the upper left hand and slices of the tender areca nut on the upper right. The pouch on the lower
right contains tobacco, a relatively recent introduction.

Areca nut cutter from Bali/Indonesia

Malay culture and tradition hold betel nut and leaves in high esteem. Traditionally, guests who
visit a Malay house are presented with a tray of areca nuts and betel leaves, in much the same
way as drinks are offered to guests in many cultures around the world. There is even a Malay
proverb about the betel nut, "bagaikan pinang dibelah dua", loosely translated, like a betel nut
divided in half. It usually refers to newlyweds, who are compatible to each other, just like a betel
nut when divided in half. The proverb is analogous to the English "two peas in a pod".[citation needed]

Areca Nut in small packs, usually labelled as betel nut in South India.

In the Indian subcontinent, the chewing of betel and areca nut dates back to the pre-Vedic
period Harappan empire.[10] Formerly, in both India and Sri Lanka, it was a custom of the royalty
to chew areca nut with betel leaf. Kings had special attendants whose duty it was to carry a box
with all the necessary ingredients for a good chewing session. There was also a custom for
lovers to chew areca nut and betel leaf together, because of its breath-freshening and relaxant
properties. A sexual symbolism thus became attached to the chewing of the nut and the leaf. The
areca nut represented the male principle, and the betel leaf the female principle. Considered an
auspicious ingredient in Hinduism and some schools of Buddhism, the areca nut is still used
along with betel leaf in religious ceremonies, and also while honoring individuals in much of
southern Asia.[citation needed]
In Assam, it is a tradition to offer pan-tamul (betel leaves and raw areca nut) to guests, after tea
or meals, served in a brass plate with stands called bota. Among the Assamese, the areca nut
also has a variety of uses during religious and marriage ceremonies, where it has the role of a
fertility symbol.[citation needed] A tradition from Upper Assam is to invite guests to wedding receptions
by offering a few areca nuts with betel leaves. During Bihu, the husori players are offered areca
nuts and betel leaves by each household while their blessings are solicited.
Spanish mariner Álvaro de Mendaña reported observing Solomon Islanders chewing the nut and
the leaf with caustic lime, and the manner in which the habit stained their mouths red. He noted
the friendly and genial chief Malope, on Santa Isabel Island, would offer him the combination as
a token of friendship every time they met.[11]
In Bhutan the areca nut is called doma. The raw areca nut, which is soft and moist is very potent
and when chewed can cause palpitation and vasoconstricting. This form is eaten in the lower
regions of Bhutan and in North Bengal, where the nut is cut into half and put into a local paan
leaf with a generous amount of lime. In the rest of Bhutan the raw nut, with the husk on, is
fermented such that the husk rots and is easy to extract. The fermented doma has a putrid
odour, which can be smelled from miles. Traditionally, this fragrant nut is cut in half and placed
on top of a cone made of local betel leaf, which has a dash of lime put into it. "Myth has it that the
inhabitants of Bhutan traditionally known as Monyul, the land of Monpas where Buddhism did not
reach lived on raw flesh, drank blood and chewed bones. After the arrival of Guru Rinpoche in
the 8th century, he stopped the people from eating flesh and drinking blood and created a
substitute which is betel leaf, lime and areca nut. Today, chewing doma has become a custom.
Doma is served after meals, during rituals and ceremonies. It is offered to friends and is chewed
at work places by all sections of the society and has become an essential part of Bhutanese life
and culture."[12]
The addition of tobacco leaf to the chewing mixture is a relatively recent innovation, as tobacco
was not introduced from the American continent until the colonial era.

Effects on health[edit]
Systemic effects of areca nut
Areca nut affects almost all organs of the human body, including the brain, heart, lungs,gastrointestinal tract and
reproductive organs. It causes or aggravates pre-existing conditions such as neuronal injury, myocardial
infarction,cardiac arrhythmias, hepatotoxicity, asthma, central obesity, type II diabetes, hyperlipidemia,metabolic
syndrome, etc. Areca nut affects theendocrine system, leading to hypothyroidism,prostate
hyperplasia and infertility. It affects the immune system leading to suppression of T-cellactivity and decreased
release of cytokines. It has harmful effects on the fetus when used during pregnancy.



Garg et al. (2014)[13]

Areca nut vendor with red mouth from areca consumption preparing betel leaves

Habitual chewers of betel leaf and areca nut have a greatly increased risk of developing a range
of serious diseases, including cancers of the mouth and esophagus.[13][14] It has many systemic
effects (see box).[13]
Chewing areca nut alone has been linked to oral submucosal fibrosis.[15] According to Medline
Plus, "Long-term use [of betel-areca preparations] has been associated with oral
submucosal fibrosis (OSF), pre-cancerous oral lesions andsquamous cell carcinoma. Acute
effects of betel chewing include asthma exacerbation, hypertension, and tachycardia. There may
additionally be a higher risk of cancers of the liver, mouth, esophagus, stomach, prostate, cervix,
and lung with regular betel use. Other effects can include a possible effect on blood sugar levels,
which may in turn increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes."[16]
Use of areca nut has been associated with deterioration of psychosis in patients with
preexisting psychiatric disorders.[17]Areca nut consumption is also tied to chronic kidney disease
in men.[18]
In 2003 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a World Health Organization
sponsored group, reached the conclusion that there is sufficient evidence that the habit of
chewing betel quid, with or without tobacco, is carcinogenic to humans.[4][19] Support for this
conclusion is provided by a recent study which found that paan, even without concurrent tobacco
use, is a risk factor for oral cancer. In October, 2009, 30 scientists from 10 countries met at IARC
to reassess the carcinogenicity of various agents including areca nut, and mechanisms of
carcinogenesis. They confirmed there is sufficient evidence that areca nut, with or without
tobacco, can cause cancer.[20]
Use during pregnancy[edit]
Chewing paan (and/or other areca nut and betel leaf formulations) during pregnancy significantly
increases adverse outcomes for the baby.[21] The habit is associated with higher incidences
of preterm birth and low birth weight and height.[13] Biologically, these effects may be a
consequence of the arecoline that is found in areca nuts.[14] The habit also exposes the unborn
baby to various other toxic components linked to cancer.[13]

Modern-day consumption[edit]

Sign in Indonesia saying that chewing betelnut is prohibited. Because of the mess from buai pekpek, many
places ban chewing betelnuts. Notably, Port Moresby, the capital ofPapua New Guinea, has a ban on buai.
This buai ban is from Sentani Airport, Jayapura, Papua Province, Indonesia.

Chewing betelnut produces a red residue which is spat out. This spit, known as buai pekpek, is often
considered an eyesore.

In India (the largest consumer of areca nut) and Pakistan, the preparation of nut with or without
betel leaf is commonly referred to aspaan. It is available practically everywhere and is sold in
ready-to-chew pouches called pan masala or supari, as a mixture of many flavours whose
primary base is areca nut crushed into small pieces. Poor people, who may eat only every other
day, use it to stave offhunger pangs.[14][22] Pan masala with a small quantity of tobacco is
called gutka. The easily discarded, small plastic supari or gutkapouches are a ubiquitous
pollutant of the South Asian environment. Some of the liquid in the mouth is usually disposed of
by spitting, producing bright red spots wherever the expectorate lands.

Shopkeeper making paan in an Indian store

In the Maldives, areca nut chewing is very popular, but spitting is frowned upon and regarded as
an unrefined, repulsive way of chewing. Usually, people prefer to chew thin slices of the dry nut,
which is sometimes roasted. Kili, a mixture of areca nut, betel, cloves, cardamom and sugar is
sold in small home-made paper pouches. Old people who have lost their teeth keep "chewing" by
pounding the mixture of areca nut and betel with a small mortar and pestle.
In Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, fresh areca nut, betel leaf or 'fruit leaf' (daka in
PNG) and lime are sold on street corners. In these countries, dried or flavoured areca nut is not
popular. Betelnuts there are referred to in Tok Pisin as buai, and the red spit from them, as well
as their shells and rubbish thrown out along with the spit, is called buai pekpek. There has
recently been a controversial ban on selling and chewing betelnuts and spitting buai pekpek
in Port Moresby. Because of this, many people have tried to smuggle betelnuts into Pom Town.
Notably, there was a raid in Hanuabada in May 2015 where several bags of betelnut were
confiscated, the total value of the confiscated nut sacks exceeding $180,000 USD. Areca nut
chewing has recently been introduced into Vanuatu, where it is growing in popularity, especially
in the northern islands of the country. In Guam and the neighboring Northern Mariana Islands,
betel and areca nut chewing is a social pastime as a means to extend friendship, and can be
found in many, if not most, large gatherings as part of the food display.
In Palau, betel nut is chewed with lime, piper leaf and nowadays, with the addition of tobacco.
Older and younger generations alike enjoy the use of betel nut, which is readily available at
stores and markets. Unlike in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, where the inner
areca nut is used, in Palau, the areca nut's skin is chewed along with lime, leaf and tobacco and
the juice is not swallowed but spat out.
In Taiwan, bags of 20 to 40 areca nuts are purchased fresh daily by a large number of
consumers. To meet the steady year-round demand, two kinds of betel-nut shops sell betel and
nuts, as well as cigarettes and drinks, including beer: Small mom and pop shops, often poorly
maintained and with unassuming façades, and shops which will often consist of nothing more
than a single, free-standing room, or booth. The latter is usually elevated one meter above the
street, and measures less than 3 by 2 m. Large picture windows comprise two or more of the
walls, allowing those who pass by a complete view of the interior. The interior is often painted
brightly. Within such a shop, a sexily dressed young woman, a "betel nut beauty", can be seen
preparing betel and areca nuts. Shops are often identified by multicoloured (commonly
green) fluorescent tubes or neon lights that frame the windows or that are arranged radially
above a store. Customers stop on the side of the road and wait for the girls to bring their betel
and areca nut to their vehicles. The habit of chewing betel nut is often associated with blue-collar
labor industries such a long-haul transportation, construction, or fishing. Workers in these labor-
intensive industries use betel nut for its stimulating effect, but it also becomes a tool for
socializing with coworkers. For example, studies have shown chewing betel nut is prevalent
among taxi, bus and truck drivers, who rely on the stimulating effect of betel nut to cope with long
work hours.[23][24][25] For these reasons, oral cancer has been identified as a leading cause of death
in professions with high betel nut-chewing rates.[26]
In Hainan and Hunan Province, China, where Xiangtan is a center of use and processing,[27] a
wide range of old and young people consume areca nut daily. Most, though, consume the dried
variety of the nut by itself, without the betel leaves. Some people also consume the areca nut in
its raw, fresh form with or without the betel leaves. Betel nuts are sold mostly by old women
walking around trying to sell it, but the dried version can be found in most shops which sell tea,
alcohol and cigarettes.
In Thailand, the consumption of areca nut has declined gradually in the last decades. The
younger generation rarely chews the substance, especially in the cities. Most of the present-day
consumption is confined to older generations, mostly people above 50. Even so, small trays of
betel leaves and sliced tender areca nut are sold in markets and used as offerings in Buddhist
shrines.
In the Philippines, chewing the areca nut and betel leaf was a very widespread tradition in the
past. Now, though, this tradition is almost dead among the urban people in the cities and big
towns, and has largely been replaced by gum and tobacco. Nowadays, older people are the only
ones chewing betel nuts. But in rural areas, betel nut-chewing is very much alive.

Areca nuts as sold inHainan, China

In the United States, areca nut is not a controlled or specially taxed substance and may be found
in some Asian grocery stores. However, importation of areca nut in a form other than whole or
carved kernels of nuts can be stopped at the discretion of US Customs officers on the grounds of
food, agricultural, or medicinal drug violations. Such actions by Customs are very rare. In
the United Kingdom, areca nut is readily available in Asian grocery stores and even in shredded
forms from the World Food aisles of larger Tesco supermarkets.
Possession of betel nut or leaf is banned in the UAE and is a punishable offense.
Recently it has been reported that areca nut powder extract is capable of reducing silver ions to
create silver nanoparticles,[5] which may be useful as antimicrobial agents.
............................................................................................................
The Pinang tree on the left was found in the junction between Brown Road and Burma Road, Penang.
It is the state symbol of the Penang state. It is difficult to see Pinang tree in Penang now. There was
call by Penang people to plant more Pinang trees in Penang.

Penang, a state of Malaysia, is located at northwest coast of Malaya Peninsular, by the Strait of
Malacca. Penang was given to British East India Company in 1786 by Sultan of Kedah,in exchange for
protection against the Siamese and Burmese. Some books said that the island was found by Captain
Francis Light(1740-1794) on 11-8-1786. But I personally not agreed with the view, Penang is known
as Pulau Pinang(Island of Betel Nuts) by the locals. It was renamed Prince of Wales Island by British.

Penang has been called Pulau Ka-Satu(First Island) by early Malay, and Binlang Yu(檳榔嶼 ) by
Admiral Zheng He of Ming dynasty during his expeditions to the South Sea in 15th Century. How can
Penang was found by Captain Francis Light?.It was either found by the earlier Malay, or may be by
earlier Chinese.

When Francis Light landed in the island, there were reported 58 fishermen, including 3 Hakka chinese
in the island who came in 1745, earlier than Capt Francis Light by 41 years (note: The three Hakka
was known as Tua Pek Kong by Penang Chinese, there is a temple in Tanjong Tokong in
remembrance of them). The others must be some Malay. It was also reported that when Captain
Francis Light landed in the island on 17-7-1786, there was a Captain China Koh Lay Huan(吉打华人甲
必丹的辜礼欢)from Kedah visited him, come all the way from Kuala Kedah together with some Indian
Christian. Captain Francis Light only claimed Penang Island for the British empire, and did not found
Penang; he can only said to have found Georgetown & not Penang.

Note: One of the founder of Adelaide, Australia was Colonel William Light(1786-1839), son of Capt
Francis Light, born in Kuala Kedah, Siam(now Kedah, Malaysia)

The capital of Penang is Georgetown. In 1826, Penang , together with Malacca and Singapore
become part of The Strait Settlement under British administration from India, but in 1867, the Strait
Settlement was under direct rule from Britain as crown colony. In 1946 (1-4-1946) , Penang become
part of Malayan Union, and on 1-2-1948, part of Federation of Malaya. The Federation of Malaya
become independent from British rule on 31-8-1957. All Penangites become Malaysia citizen by
operation of law. On 16-9- 1963, Northern Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaya and
formed Malaysia.

The Penang state now consists of Penang island and Province Wellesley (or Seberang Perai in Malay).
The state flag of Penang state consists of 3 colours, blue on the left and yellow on the right, and at
the middle of the state flag is a Pinang Tree with white background.

The island was a free port until 1969. Despite the loss of free port status to Pulau Langkawi, the state
become an industrialised state, it build up one of the largest electronic industry base in South East
Asia under the former Chief Minister,Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu. The industry was in the free trade zone in
Bayan Lepas, near the Penang airport located at the south of the island.

Penang was declared as UNESCO World Heritage site on 7-7-2008.

Penang should plant more Pinang trees, and hope to see more betel nut used as brand names,
symbol, in art and in every circle of Penang's daily life. This is to reflect the true identity of Pulau
Pinang, Island of betel nut.
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Pinang Tree / Betel Nut Palm is a straight and graceful palm tree growing in most tropical
countries. It is native to Malaysia tropical rainforest. It is a palm exhibiting a slender single trunk,
up to 10 m tall and about 20 cm wide, green at first, subsequently greyish and ringed by the
remains of leaf scars. Its leaves, borne at stem apex, are pinnate, with a rigid but recurved rachis
and several rigid, closely packed segments. Flowers, yellow and fragrant, are unisexual, clustered
in inflorescences basally arising from the leaves, and enveloped by two spathes; male flowers are
more numerous and located at inflorescence apex, whilst female flowers, less numerous, are to be
found near the base. Fruits are hard, ovoid, red-orange coloured; they possess a fibrous mesocarp
and a thin woody endocarp enveloping one seed.

How to grow
The betel palm prefers moist soil with excellent drainage and a moist tropical climate. It is too
tender to grow outside of the tropics and does not tolerate drought. It is cold sensitive. USDA
hardiness zone is 10 - 11. They cannot withstand temperature below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. A slow
growing graceful palm reaches 80 feet in the wild. Grown indoors as a container plant it is kept in
check.

Uses
This plant is a very usefull and attractive addition to garden, because it is one of the few smaller
growing sun tolerant feather palms. Seeds of this palm, incorrectly known as betel nuts, are widely
employed, notably in South-East Asia, as a masticatory, due to its stimulating, digestive and
cardiotonic properties, exerted by tannin and alkaloid substances present in them. The seeds
contain arecalin, a stimulant, and are the betel nuts that color the teeth and mouth red, when
chewed. Medicinally, the betel nut is used to treat intestinal worms.. In addition, its vegetating
buds are often used as palm cabbage.

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