BRIEF DESCRIPTION An evergreen tree (palm) reaching up to 10-30 m in height with a stem up to 15 cm in diameter and a crown of 10-20 leaves. The fruits are about 5 cm long, orange when ripe, with fibrous husk and a single seed. USES It provides seed that are chewed as a masticatury. The seeds are wrapped in a betel pepper leaf with lime and chewed. It has medicinal properties and can be grown as an ornamental. GROWING PERIOD Perennial. Flowering begins 4-6 years after planting, the tree comes into bearing after 7-8 years, and reaches full bearing at 10-15 years. The economical life of the tree is 40-60 years, but it may live up to 100 years. Fruit takes about 240 days to ripen from pollination. COMMON NAMES Betel palm, Betel nut, Areca palm, Areca nut, Noix d`arec, Arequier, Supari, Pinang, Supari, Gua, Adike, Kamuya, Poka-vakka, Kun, Thamul, Supari, Adikke, Adakkamaram, Kavungu, Pophal, Kamugu, Pakku maram, Vakka. FURTHER INF Scientific synonym: A. cathecu. Betel palm is believed to be native of South or Southeast Asia. It is adapted to humid maritime climates of the tropics and can be grown from sea level up to 1000 m. Mentioned as a useful agroforestry species.
