I took these photos from a distance at our condo, where there is a coconut and orange orchard. There is also a small area where these areca palms are grown. According to Wikipedia, the Areca nut is the seed of the Areca palm (scientific name Areca catechu), which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of East Africa. I googled for Betel Nut which I thought is its name but even wiki says it is erroneously called as that.
While fresh, the areca fruit's husk is green and becomes yellow when ripe. Wikipedia says, areca nuts are chewed with betel leaf for their effects as a mild stimulant, causing a mild hot sensation in the body and slightly heightened alertness, although the effects vary from person to person. The effect of chewing betel and the nut is relatively mild and could be compared to drinking a cup of coffee.
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