The term 'Areca' is a combination of two words, 'BETEL' and 'PALM'. BETEL is a climbing shrub native to South and Southeast Asia, while PALM is a type of tree found in tropical regions. Areca is the name of a genus of palms, which are widely cultivated for their edible nuts and for their use in traditional medicine. The Areca nut is the seed of the Areca PALM, and it is chewed with BETEL leaves as a stimulant in many parts of the world.