Areca

Areca
Areca catechu
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Areca
L., 1753
Species

See text

Areca is a genus of about 50 species of single-stemmed palms in the family Arecaceae, found in humid tropical forests from Malaysia to the Solomon Islands. The generic name Areca is derived from a name used locally on the Malabar Coast of India.

Contents

Usage

The best-known member of the genus is A. catechu, the areca nut palm. Several species of Areca nuts, known for their bitter and tangy taste, raw or dried nuts are routinely used for chewing , especially in combination with the leaves of Betel, tobacco, and Calcium hydroxide (lime). This practice is popular among elderly people in southeastern Asia.

Family

The areca nut tree belongs to the same family as the oil palm and talipot palm, but its straight and slender appearance is quite different.

Species

See also

References

Bibliography