Areca

''Areca'' is a genus of 51 species of palms in the family Arecaceae, found in humid tropical forests from the islands of the Philippines and Malaysia, India, and across Southeast Asia to Melanesia.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> The generic name ''Areca'' is derived from a name used locally on the Malabar Coast of India.

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, are routinely used for chewing, especially in combination with the leaves of betel and dried leaves of tobacco. Areca nut is also popularly referred to as betel nut because of its use for chewing with betel leaves. In Assam, areca nut is also known as ''tamul'' in the local dialect.

Cultural significance

The areca palm, mainly known for its areca nuts, holds profound cultural and historical significance in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. These regions, steeped in rich traditions, have integrated Areca into various aspects of life.

* Religious and social rituals: Areca nuts are traditionally used in religious rituals and social ceremonies. Hindu weddings, for instance, symbolize long-lasting marriage and are often exchanged during the practices. Similarly, in many Asian cultures, offering areca nuts to guests is a sign of respect and hospitality.
* Symbolism: The areca nut, often paired with betel leaves, symbolizes various cultural aspects. For example, in some parts of India, this combination represents love and is used in love potions.
* Art and literature: Areca has been depicted in various forms of art and literature, symbolizing different themes ranging from fertility to prosperity.
* Traditional medicine: In the Indian subcontinent, areca nuts have been used in traditional medicine for their supposed health benefits, though modern research has raised concerns about their health impacts.
* Economic aspect: Beyond its cultural relevance, areca cultivation is essential to the rural economies in many parts of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, providing livelihoods to millions of farmers.
* Festivals and celebrations: Certain festivals, especially in India and Southeast Asia, involve using areca nuts. They are considered auspicious and are used in various traditional dishes and offerings.

Species

(51 species)
*'' Areca abdulrahmanii'' J.Dransf.
*'' Areca ahmadii'' J.Dransf.
*'' Areca andersonii'' J.Dransf.
*'' Areca gandamatu'' Sultan Mardan Plantation
*'' Areca arundinacea'' Becc.
*'' Areca brachypoda'' J.Dransf.
*'' Areca caliso'' Becc.
*'' Areca camarinensis'' Becc.
*'' Areca catechu'' L.
*'' Areca celebica'' Burret
*'' Areca chaiana'' J.Dransf.
*'' Areca concinna'' Thwaites
*'' Areca congesta'' Becc.
*'' Areca costulata'' Becc.
*'' Areca dayung'' J.Dransf.
*'' Areca furcata'' Becc.
*'' Areca glandiformis'' Lam.
*'' Areca guppyana'' Becc.
*'' Areca gurita'' Heatubun
*'' Areca hutchinsoniana'' Becc.
*'' Areca insignis'' (Becc.) J.Dransf.
*'' Areca ipot'' Becc.
*'' Areca jobiensis'' Becc.
*'' Areca jugahpunya'' J.Dransf.
*'' Areca kinabaluensis'' Furtado
*'' Areca klingkangensis'' J.Dransf.
*'' Areca laosensis'' Becc.
*'' Areca ledermanniana'' Becc.
*'' Areca macrocalyx'' Zipp. ''ex'' Blume
*'' Areca macrocarpa'' Becc.
*'' Areca minuta'' Scheff.
*'' Areca montana'' Ridl.
*'' Areca multifida'' Burret
*'' Areca nannospadix'' Burret
*'' Areca nigasolu'' Becc.
*'' Areca novohibernica'' (Lauterb.) Becc.
*'' Areca oxycarpa'' Miq.
*'' Areca parens'' Becc.
*'' Areca rechingeriana'' Becc.
*'' Areca rheophytica'' J.Dransf.
*'' Areca ridleyana'' Becc. ''ex'' Furtado
*'' Areca rostrata'' Burret
*'' Areca salomonensis'' Burret
*'' Areca subacaulis'' (Becc.) J.Dransf.
*'' Areca torulo'' Becc.
*''Areca triandra'' Roxb. ''ex'' Buch.-Ham.
*'' Areca tunku'' J.Dransf. & C.K.Lim
*'' Areca vestiaria'' Giseke
*'' Areca vidaliana'' Becc.
*'' Areca warburgiana'' Becc.
*'' Areca whitfordii'' Becc.

See also

*'' Dypsis lutescens'', a plant also sometimes referred to as "Areca palm"

References

{{Authority control

Arecaceae genera
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus