Piper betle

Not to be confused with betel nut, which is the fruit of the areca palm.

For the mixture of betel leaf and areca nut, see Betel nut chewing. For the biblical place, see Bethel.

Piper betle
File:Piper betle plant.jpg
File:Betel Piper betle.jpg
Scientific classification
Missing taxonomy template (fix):	Piper
Species:	Template:Taxonomy/PiperP. betle
Binomial name
Template:Taxonomy/PiperPiper betle L.

The betel, Piper betle, is a species of flowering plant in the pepper family Piperaceae, native to Southeast Asia. It is an evergreen, dioecious vine, with glossy heart-shaped leaves and white catkins. Betel plants are cultivated for their leaves which are most commonly used as flavoring in chewing areca nut (betel nut chewing). In India and Sri Lanka, a sheaf of betel leaves is traditionally offered as a mark of respect and auspicious beginnings. Occasions include greeting elders at wedding ceremonies, celebrating the New Year, and offering payment to physicians and astrologers (to whom money and/or areca nut, placed on top of the sheaf of leaves, are offered in thanks for blessings).In Bengali weddings,the bride is brought to the groom,seated on a platform and her face covered in betel leaves.

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