Papua Nutmeg, Macassar nutmeg, Long nutmeg
Myristica argentea

Family: Myristicaceae

What it is like

A tall tree. It grows to 40 m tall. Sometimes it has stilt roots. The twigs are without hairs but covered with many raised air pores. The leaf stalk is 1.5-2 cm long. The leaf blade is sword shaped or oval and 10-25 cm long by 4-10 cm wide. It tapers towards the tip. The underneath side of the leaf is covered with silvery scales. The male flower clusters are 2-5 cm long. The female flower clusters are 1-1.5 cm long. The female flower ovary is flask shaped and 7 mm long by 3-4 mm wide. It is covered with small brown hairs. The fruit is oval and 8.5 cm long by 5.5 cm wide. The fruit stalk is 1-3 cm long. The seed is 3.5-4 cm long.

There are about 120 Myristica species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in the forest from sea level to 250 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The seed kernel is used as a spice. The orange aril or layer around the seed is used as a spice.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gewz, Silver nutmeg

Synonyms

Myristica finschii Warb.;