Arecanut, a tree with an annulate stem, grows in coastal regions, from
Maharashtra to
Kerala and
Tamil Nadu. It is also distributed in the Deccan Plateau,
Assam,
Meghalaya,
West Bengal, and the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The stem is surrounded by a crown of pinnate leaves.
The dried nuts are used to sweeten breath, strengthen the gums, and produce a stimulant and exhilarant effect on the system. The non-alkaloid fractions of arecanuts are reported to have anti-microbial properties. Puga, Gubak, Poogiphalam and Tantusara Supari are its other names.
