Some extracts from Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areca_catechu
*Areca catechu* is the *areca palm* or *areca nut palm*, (Malay<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malay>: *Pinang*), a species of palm <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arecaceae> which grows in much of the tropical Pacific <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific>, Asia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia>, and parts of east Africa<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa> . This palm is often erroneously called the *betel tree* because its fruit, the areca nut <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areca_nut>, is always chewed along with the betel leaf <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betel_leaf>, a leaf from a vine of the Piperaceae <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piperaceae>family. It is a medium-sized and graceful palm tree<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree>growing straight to 20 m tall, with a trunk 20-30 cm in diameter. The leaves <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf> are 1.5-2 m long, pinnate, with numerous, crowded leaflets. It is also known as *Puga* in Sanskrit<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit>, *Supari* in Marathi <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathi>. *Areca catechu* is grown for its economically important seed crop, the areca nut. The seed contains alkaloids <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaloid>such as arecaine<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arecaine&action=edit&redlink=1>and arecoline <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arecoline>, which when chewed is intoxicating and is also slightly addictive. Areca palms are grown in India<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India>, Malaysia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia>, Taiwan<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan>and many other Asian countries for their seeds. Penang <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penang> Island, off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsular_Malaysia>, Fua Mulaku<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fua_Mulaku>in the Maldives <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives> and Guwahati<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guwahati>in Assam <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam>, India, are some of the places named after a local name for areca nut. 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 won't fruit or reach full size. Indoors it is a slow growing, low water, high light plant that is sensitive to spider mite and occasionally mealy bug. The areca nut is also popular for chewing throughout some Asian countries such as Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippine, Malaysia, and India. Chewing areca nut is quite popular among working classes in Taiwan. The nut itself can be addictive and has direct link to mouth cancers. Areca nut in Taiwan will usually contain artificial additives such as limestone powder. The extract of *Areca catechu* has been shown to have antidepressant properties,[2] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areca_catechu#cite_note-1> but it may be addictive.[3]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areca_catechu#cite_note-2> On Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 10:36 PM, sibdas ghosh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Areca catechu, An arrow shot at the heaven ( Roxburgh?) > > > > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
