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Myristica

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Myristica
Myristica fragrans
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Myristicaceae
Genus: Myristica
Gronov.
Species

>150;see text

Synonyms[1]
  • AruanaBurm.f.
  • ComacumAdans.
  • PalalaRumph. ex Kuntze
  • SebophoraNeck.

Myristicais a genus of trees in the familyMyristicaceae.There are over 150 species, distributed inAsiaand the western Pacific.[2]

The type species of the genus, and the most economically important member, isMyristica fragrans(thenutmegtree), from whichmaceis also derived.

Etymology

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The nameMyristicais from the Greek adjectivemyristikos,meaning ‘fragrant, for anointing’, referring to its early use.[3] The adjective is from the nounmyron(‘perfume, ointment,anointing oil’).[4]

Description

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All or nearly all species aredioecious.Knuth (1904) however cites a report of trees being male in their sex expression when young and female later.[5]Perianthof 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.[6] Species in this genus use secondary pollen presentation (pollen presentation in the flower which does not use an anther), the type of which isPollenhaufen(German for ‘pollen-heap’), where pollen is in an exposed heap at the base of the flower.

Selected species

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Main article:List ofMyristicaspecies

There are 172 acceptedMyristicaspecies as of April 2021 according toPlants of the World Online.[1] Selected species include:

Some species ofMyristicahave been reclassified into the genusVirolaby some botanical authorities. Taxa that have been reassigned, or otherwise removed from the genus include:

References

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  1. ^ab"Myristica Gronov".Plants of the World Online.Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.Retrieved20 April2021.
  2. ^Myristica.Flora of China.
  3. ^Washburn, Homer Charles; Blome, Walter Henry (1936).A Text-book on Pharmacognosy.Edward Letter. p. 77.Myristica,from the Greek "myristikos," of or pertaining to ointments, so named because of its early use as a flavoring for this type of preparations.
  4. ^Quattrocchi, Umberto (2016).CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants.CRC Press. p. 2596.ISBN978-1-4822-5064-0.Myristica[...] From the Greekmyristikos'fragrant, fit for anointing',myron'a perfume, ointment, scent, sweet smelling, sweet oil',myrizo,myrizein'to rub with ointment'
  5. ^KNUTH, P., 1904, 1905: Handbuch der Bliitenbiologie 3(1 & 2), (ed. O. ApPEL & E. LOEw) [not translated]. - Leipzig: Engelmann.
  6. ^Secondary Pollen Presentation. page 7. Peter Yeo 1993
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