Spike-like nutmeg
Horsfieldia spicata
Family: Myristicaceae
What it is like
A small tree with spreading horizontal branches. The leaves come one after another in two rows along the branch. The leaves are longer than wide with a pointed tip and rounded base. They can be 30 cm long by 8 cm wide. Both sides of the leaves are smooth but the top surface is green and shiny while the lower surface is whitish-green and dull flat colour. About 12-20 pairs of side veins join near the leaf edge. The leaf stalk is short (1 cm) with a furrow along the top. The flower cluster occurs on strong twigs on a branched stalk. The tree produces flowers of one sex with male and female flowers on different trees. The flowers are small and yellow. The fruit is pear shaped and 3 cm long by 2 cm across. The fruit is greenish yellow but turns red.
There are about 88 Horsfieldia species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. It grows up to 1,000 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Solomon Islands
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Its other names
Local names
Azbuino'o, Pohon penarahan pala