Note 141 — Chapter XIX

The fruit of the Areka palm is incorrectly called in commerce “Betel-nut,” which has occasioned mistakes; many writers considering it the fruit of the “Piper Betel,” or Betel vine, the leaves of which are used with the Areka-nut as a masticatory; but as the whole mixed together, and eaten by the natives, constitutes what is called “chewing the betel” by Europeans, the nut probably derived its commercial appellation from that source. The confusion existing between the Areka palm, producing the nuts, and the Betel vine, by most writers, has caused me to insert this explanatory note.