Areca catechu Linn
Genus: Areca
Botanical name: Areca catechu Linn.
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Sanskrit: Kramuka, Pooga, Pumgiphala, Guvaka, Khoranda, Udvegam
English: Arecanut tree, Betelnut tree
Hindi: Supari
Malayalam: Kavungu, Kamuku, Kamungu, Adakkamaram
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Arecanut tree is a medium-sized and graceful 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.
The Arecanut tree 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. The areca nut is also popular for chewing throughout some Asian countries, such as Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, 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.
The root, of Arecanut tree is used for urinary system diseases and dental caries.