The arecanut palm (Areca catechu L.) is one of the important commercial crops of India. The crop is mainly grown in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Maharashtra as well as in the Andaman & Nicobar group of Islands. The economic produce is the fruit called betelnut or 'supari' which is used mainly for mastigatory purpose. It is consumed both as a raw/ripe nut (adaka or kacha tamul), as dried ripe nut (chali supari) and as semi-mature, cut and processed varieties viz., `Bateldike’ or `Kalipak’.

Arecanut or betlelnut is an extensively cultivated tropical palm. It is a tall-stemmed, erect, reaching varied height, depending upon the environmental conditions.