Myristica is a genus of trees in the family Myristicaceae. There are over 150 species, distributed in Asia and the western Pacific. 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 (‘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. 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. Species in this genus use secondary pollen presentation (pollen presentation in the flower which does not use an anther), the type of which is Pollenhaufen (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: Some species of Myristica have been reclassified into the genus Virola by some botanical authorities. Taxa that have been reassigned, or otherwise removed from the genus include: