ARECA

(Lat.),n.f. A?r(a$r)-e(a)’/ka’, Fr., arec, arecque, aréier. Ger., Arekapalme, 1. A genus of lofty palmaceous trees aring pinnate leaves with the stalk rolled into the form of a cylinder, and unisexual flowers on a branched spadix enveloped in a double spathe. 2. In the Br. Ph., 1867, the a. nut. [B, pie alba [Bory]. Fr., palmiste blanc (ou commun). Syn.: Sublimia palm i caulis, See DICTYOSPERMA album.—A. american a. See A. oleracea.—A. Banksii [Cunning ham]. See A. sapid a.—A. betel Fée]. See A. catechu.—A. catechu [Linnœæus]. Fr., arec de Inde. Ger., Katechupalme, Be tel nus spat me. The betel-nut palm (the pinamg othe melange à species growing in the East Indies, furnishing the a.- (or betel-) nut. The tree is cultivated extensively and in many varieties in the East Indies, especially in the neighborhood of the sea-coast. The spathes are used as ve els; the male flower has an exceedingly agreeable perfume, and is used as a medicine; the young leaves are eaten in the form of salad; and in Malabar intoxicating pastilles are made from the juice of the tree. [B. Franck (A, 304): B, 5, 33.) See also A.-nut.—A. crinita [Bory]. Fr., palmiste-bourre, ashe à bourre. Syn.: Sublimia cen- See tennina [Commers on]. A species more properly referred to Acanthopheeniz, growing in the Mascarene Isiands. It has an edible top. [B, 188.]—A. Dicks on i i [Roxburgh]. See Pry cHo sPERM A Dicks on i i.—A. edulis. See EUTERPE edulis.—A. faufel [Gartner], See À. catechu.—A. glandiform is [Lamarck]. A Molnccan species having roper ties and uses similar to those of A. oleracea. t. 180.|—A. globulifera een. A species the fruit of which is used like that of 4. catechu. , IXU.H—A. guvaca. See A. catechu.—A. humilis {Willdenow]. A Moluccan species having ee and uses similar to those of A. oleracea. B, 180.]—A. indica. See A. catechu.—A. lax a Ham.]. A species growing in the And aim a Islands, the seeds of which are used like A. catechu. B, 20.]—A. lutescens [Bory]. Fr., arec-poison. HYoPHORBE indica.—A. madagascar i ens is [Martius]. Fr., arec (ou arecque) singe, arbre à sel, A species the oil obtained from which is used as an embrocation in gout and rheumatism. [B, 173.]—A. nagensis [Griff.]. A Bengal species, used like A. catechu. [B, 270.]—A.-nut. Lat., areca [Br. Ph., 1867], semen arecæ. Fr., noix d’arec. Ger., Arekanu . It., noce d'areca. Syn.: betelnui (because chewed with the leaf of the betel pepper). The nut of À. catechu; a drupe-like nut of about the size of a hen’s egg, haviug a fibrous rind about half an inch thick inclosing the seed, which is about as large as a nutmeg. The nucleus, of a ae orange-color, contains 53 per cent. of fat and per cent. of emulsin, together with sugar, catechu-tannic acid, catechin, galiic acid, and_a. red (q. v.).. The nut is extensively used in the East as a masticatory, and is thought to sEiprove digestion. It colors the tongue and lips scarlet, and in time yenders the teeth perfectly black unle , as in China, care is taken to remove the stain. The nut is sliced and wrapped in the leaf of the betel pep per (Piper betle), and a little quicklime is added. The seed is astringent, and is reputed tonic and anti-periodie. It has been used in dropsical affections and as an anthelminthic. A fibrous material resembling oakum, but softer, obtained from the husk, has been used in Ceylon as a dre ing for wounds. [Stevens on, inb. Med. Jour.,” Feb., 1882 (A); A, 304, 827; B, 5; L, 75.) Cf. ARERANE.—A. oleracea [Linnæus]. Fr., arec d'Amérique, chou palmiste, arbre PEER HEL y p; E RN San