1310 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
A reed-like climber, quite glabrous, climbing over lofty trees 
by the leaf-tendrils ; stem nearly lin. thick towards the base, 
terete, smooth ; branches clothed with cylindric, smooth, striate, 
closed, truncate sheaths; branchlets as thick as a crow-quill. 
Leaves sessile, 6-10in. long, variable in breadth, lanceolate 
from a rounded base, shortly narrowed into the sheath, drawn 
out at the apex into a slender spiral tendril, many-nerved ; 
sheaths cylindric, striate, 2-aurieled at the apex. Flowers white, 
in shortly pedunculate, trregulary laxly branched panicles; 6-12- 
in. long. Outer perianth-segments Vbm. long, broadly ovate or 
suborbicular, obtuse ; inner segments similar, more or less 
unequal. Anthers iVd- long, deeply 2-fid at the base. Ovary 
to top of stigma t'o'D- long ; style-arms about s^in. long. 
Drupe pisiform, red, smooth. (Cooke). 
Use: — The leaves are said to be astringent and vulnerary. 
(Bailey.) 
N. 0. PALMEiE. 
1297. Areca Catechu, Linn., H.F.B.I., VI., 405 ; 
Roxb. 665. 
Sans. : — Puga-phalam ; Gub&k. 
Vern.: — Supari (H. & B.) ; Tdmbul (Ass.); Poka-vakka, 
vakka (Tel.); Kamugu, pakku, kottai-p&kku (Tam.); Adike 
(Kan.). 
Engl. — Betel-nut. 
Habitat: — Cultivated in many parts of India. 
Trunk solitary, 40-100 ft. Leaves 4-6ft. ; leaflets numerous, 
l-2ft , upper confluent, quite glabrous. Spathe glabrous, com- 
pressed. Spadix much branched ; rachis stout, compressed ; 
branches with filiform tips bearing more or less distichous, 
minute male flowers. Female flower solitary at the base and axils 
of the branches ; sepals J in., ovate, obtuse ; petals oub-similar ; 
staminodes 6, connate. Fruit l|-2in., smooth, orange or scarlet.® 
* Mr. M. K. Venkata Ran of Bangalore, has described a variety, Areca 
Catechu, Var. deliciosa. He says The ordinary betel-not h is a very 
astringent taste when tasted raw (before boiling). * * The present variety 
Is fairly sweet to eat and Is farther distinguished by the fact that the endo- 
sperm Is much lighter in color and softer.” (Jour. Bo. N. H. 8. XXiIl. 798). 
