Betel vine

Description:

The betel plant is an evergreen and perennial creeper, with glossy heart-shaped leaves.

Habitat:

Betel needs constantly moist soil, but there should not be excessive moisture. Irrigation is frequent and light, and standing water should not remain for more than half an hour.The betel leaf is cultivated in most of South and Southeast Asia.

Notes:

The betel leaf is predominantly consumed as betel quid or paan, which is a mixture of substances. The high rate of oral cancer in South Asia is thought to be due to the chewing of betel preparations; the inclusion of tobacco may worsen the risk, but there is also evidence that the areca nut, alone or as part of a betel quid, may cause cancer even without tobacco. Scientific studies that evaluate the health effects of betel leaves by itself are however limited,