Palmae. 49 
under horticultural names. It is cultivated very extensively in Hono- 
lulu and Hilo; almost every yard having a specimen or two. 
It is a native of the Island of Mauritius, but has become a favorite 
palm in the gardens of many tropical countries. 
Areca Catechu Willd. 
The Betel-nut Palm. 
See Plate LVI. 
The Betel-nut Palm is of elegant growth, rising with a very 
erect and slender trunk to the height of forty or even sixty feet ; 
the summit is a tuft of beautiful dark foliage. The trunk is rarely 
more than six or eight inches in diameter, and is dark green when 
young, becoming dark gray with advanced age. The trunk is ringed 
with the marks formed by the clasping leaf stalks. The tree ripens 
its fruits only once during the year. The long branches with large 
ovate, orange-colored fruits, which are pendant from the upper 
part of the trunk, enhance the beauty of the tree and are in pleasing 
contrast with the dark green pinnate foliage. The exact native home 
of the Betel-nut is not known, but is supposed to be the Sunda Isl- 
ands. Like the Coconut it has been introduced into many tropical 
countries and even into Europe and America where it is grown as 
a hot-house plant. While the species in question is fairly common 
in Honolulu and Hilo, it is not so plentifully cultivated as other 
palms, as for instance, Dictyosperma album. The largest and finest, 
also probably the oldest specimens of the Betel-nut palm can be 
found in Mrs. Mary E. Foster's premises where they were planted 
by Dr. Hillebrand. Any traveler who has even only passed through 
Burmah, Bengal, or other lands and islands inhabited by tribes related 
to the Malayan race could not help but observe the brick-red lips, 
black teeth and otherwise offensive appearance of the mouths of the 
native inhabitants. It is caused by the chewing of the Betel-nut, 
together with lime, tobacco, and an astringent substance known as 
Gambir and the leaves of various species of pepper, as for instance, 
Piper betle, Piper meythisticum (the Hawaiian Aiva). The nut is 
deprived of its fibrous husk, divided or grated, wrapped in the piper 
leaf with a pinch of quicklime and as such is known as the Pan of 
India. It injures the teeth, but has a fine aroma, and the odor it 
imparts to the breath is quite agreeable. It is also stated that Pan 
increases or excites appetite and aids digestion. The active principle 
of the Areca-nut is Arecaine and is a powerful agent for destroying 
