Editing Areca

{{Short description|Genus of palms}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Areca_catechu_-_Köhler–s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-014.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Areca catechu]]'' – 1897 illustration<ref>Areca catechu – the Areca palm. In botanical drawing from Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen – by Franz Eugen Köhler, in 1897.</ref>
| display_parents = 3
| taxon = Areca
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
| type_species = ''[[Areca catechu]]''&nbsp;<ref name="monograph"/>
| type_species_authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
| synonyms_ref = <ref name=b/>
| synonyms = 
*''Mischophloeus'' <small>Scheff.</small>
*''Gigliolia'' <small>[[Odoardo Beccari|Becc.]]</small>
*''Pichisermollia'' <small>H.C.Monteiro</small>
*''Arecus''
}}

'''''Areca''''' is a [[genus]] of 51 species of [[Arecaceae|palm]]s in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Arecaceae]], found in humid [[tropical forest]]s from the islands of the [[Philippines]] and [[Malaysia]], [[India]], and across [[Southeast Asia]] to [[Melanesia]].<ref name="monograph">{{cite journal |author1=Charlie D. Heatubun |author2=John Dransfield |author3=Thomas Flynn |author4=Sri S. Tjitrosoedirjo |author5=Johanis P. Mogea |author6=William J. Baker |year=2012 |title=A monograph of the betel nut palms (''Areca'': Arecaceae) of East Malesia |journal=[[Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society]] |volume=168 |issue=2 |pages=147–173 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2011.01199.x|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=b>[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=14493 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==
[[File:Khichdi Prasadam in Donna (Iskcon Bangalore).jpg|thumb|220px|''[[Khichdi]]'' is a South Asian  dish. This image shows a ''[[prasāda]]'' in a traditional areca leaf bowl at [[ISKCON Temple Bangalore]].]]

The best-known member of the genus is ''[[Areca catechu|A.&nbsp;catechu]]'', the [[areca nut]] palm.<ref name="monograph"/><ref>{{cite journal |url= https://ugp.rug.nl/eJIM/article/view/24712 |author=Zumbroich, Thomas J. | date = 2008 | title = The origin and diffusion of betel chewing: A synthesis of evidence from South Asia, Southeast Asia and beyond | journal = e-Journal of Indian Medicine | volume = 1 | issue = 3 | pages = 87–140 }}</ref> 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 ==
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
(51 species)
*''[[Areca abdulrahmanii]]'' <small>[[J.Dransf.]]</small>
*''[[Areca ahmadii]]'' <small>[[J.Dransf.]]</small>
*''[[Areca andersonii]]'' <small>[[J.Dransf.]]</small>
*''[[Areca gandamatu]]'' <small>Sultan Mardan Plantation</small>
*''[[Areca arundinacea]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca brachypoda]]'' <small>J.Dransf.</small>
*''[[Areca caliso]]'' <small>[[Becc.]]</small>
*''[[Areca camarinensis]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca catechu]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Areca celebica]]'' <small>Burret</small>
*''[[Areca chaiana]]'' <small>[[J.Dransf.]]</small>
*''[[Areca concinna]]'' <small>Thwaites</small>
*''[[Areca congesta]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca costulata]]'' <small>[[Becc.]]</small>
*''[[Areca dayung]]'' <small>[[J.Dransf.]]</small>
*''[[Areca furcata]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca glandiformis]]'' <small>Lam.</small>
*''[[Areca guppyana]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca gurita]]'' <small>Heatubun</small>
*''[[Areca hutchinsoniana]]'' <small>[[Becc.]]</small>
*''[[Areca insignis]]'' <small>(Becc.) J.Dransf.</small>
*''[[Areca ipot]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca jobiensis]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca jugahpunya]]'' <small>[[J.Dransf.]]</small>
*''[[Areca kinabaluensis]]'' <small>[[Caetano Xavier Furtado|Furtado]]</small>
*''[[Areca klingkangensis]]'' <small>J.Dransf.</small>
*''[[Areca laosensis]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca ledermanniana]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca macrocalyx]]'' <small>Zipp. ''ex'' Blume</small>
*''[[Areca macrocarpa]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca minuta]]'' <small>Scheff.</small>
*''[[Areca montana]]'' <small>Ridl.</small>
*''[[Areca multifida]]'' <small>Burret</small>
*''[[Areca nannospadix]]'' <small>Burret</small>
*''[[Areca nigasolu]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca novohibernica]]'' <small>(Lauterb.) Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca oxycarpa]]'' <small>Miq.</small>
*''[[Areca parens]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca rechingeriana]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca rheophytica]]'' <small>J.Dransf.</small>
*''[[Areca ridleyana]]'' <small>Becc. ''ex'' Furtado</small>
*''[[Areca rostrata]]'' <small>Burret</small>
*''[[Areca salomonensis]]'' <small>Burret</small>
*''[[Areca subacaulis]]'' <small>(Becc.) J.Dransf.</small>
*''[[Areca torulo]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca triandra]]'' <small>Roxb. ''ex'' Buch.-Ham.</small>
*''[[Areca tunku]]'' <small>J.Dransf. & C.K.Lim</small>
*''[[Areca vestiaria]]'' <small>[[Giseke]]</small>
*''[[Areca vidaliana]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca warburgiana]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
*''[[Areca whitfordii]]'' <small>Becc.</small>
{{div col end}}

==See also==
[[Image:ArecaYield.png|thumb|upright=1.4|Worldwide areca yield]]
*''[[Dypsis lutescens]]'', a plant also sometimes referred to as "Areca palm"

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Arecaceae genera}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q157289}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Areca| ]]
[[Category:Arecaceae genera]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]