Myristica is a genus of trees in the family Myristicaceae. There are over 150 species, distributed in Asia and the western Pacific as far as Vanuatu.Myristica. Flora of China. Approximately 100 species are found on New Guinea alone, and practically all of them are island specific.
The type species of the genus, and the most economically important member, is Myristica fragrans (the nutmeg tree), from which mace is also derived.
Etymology The name is from the Greek adjective , meaning ‘fragrant, for anointing’, referring to its early use. The adjective is from the noun μύρον myron (‘perfume, ointment, anointing oil’).
Description All or nearly all species are dioecious. Knuth (1904) however cites a report of trees being male in their sex expression when young and female later.KNUTH, P., 1904, 1905: Handbuch der Bliitenbiologie 3(1 & 2), (ed. O. ApPEL & E. LOEw) [not translated]. - Leipzig: Engelmann. Perianth of one whorl of three largely united segments. Stamens two to thirty, partly or wholly united. The ovary is superior, consisting of a single uniovulate carpel.Secondary Pollen Presentation. page 7. Peter Yeo 1993 Species in this genus use secondary pollen presentation (pollen presentation in the flower which does not use an anther), the type of which is (German for ‘pollen-heap’), where pollen is in an exposed heap at the base of the flower.
Selected species
There are 172 accepted Myristica species as of April 2021 according to Plants of the World Online. Selected species include:
Myristica alba Myristica andamanica Myristica arfakensis Myristica argentea Myristica atrescens Myristica basilanica Myristica beddomei Myristica brachypoda Myristica brevistipes Myristica buchneriana Myristica byssacea Myristica ceylanica Myristica cinnamomea Myristica coacta Myristica colinridsdalei Myristica conspersa Myristica corticata Myristica crassa Myristica dactyloides Myristica dasycarpa Myristica depressa Myristica devogelii Myristica elliptica Myristica extensa Myristica fasciculata Myristica filipes Myristica fissurata Myristica flavovirens Myristica fragrans Myristica frugifera Myristica gigantea Myristica gillespieana Myristica globosa Myristica grandifolia Myristica guadalcanalensis Myristica guatteriifolia Myristica guillauminiana Myristica hollrungii Myristica inaequalis Myristica incredibilis Myristica iners Myristica insipida Myristica insipida var. cimicifera (synonym M. ampliata ) Myristica inundata Myristica johnsii Myristica kalkmanii Myristica kjellbergii Myristica lasiocarpa Myristica lepidota Myristica leptophylla Myristica lowiana Myristica macrantha Myristica magnifica Myristica maingayi Myristica malabarica Myristica maxima Myristica mediterranea Myristica millepunctata Myristica nana Myristica olivacea Myristica ornata Myristica ovicarpa Myristica pachycarpidia Myristica papillatifolia Myristica perlaevis Myristica petiolata Myristica philippensis Myristica pilosella Myristica pilosigemma Myristica psilocarpa Myristica pubicarpa Myristica pygmaea Myristica robusta Myristica sangowoensis Myristica sarcantha Myristica schlechteri Myristica simulans Myristica sinclairii Myristica sogeriensis Myristica succedanea Myristica tamrauensis Myristica teysmannii Myristica trianthera Myristica tubiflora Myristica ultrabasica Myristica verruculosa Myristica xylocarpa Myristica yunnanensis
Some species of Myristica have been reclassified into the genus Virola by some botanical authorities.
References