Myristica fatua Houtt.

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Myristica fatua Houtt.
• Ambon forest nutmeg

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Palala fatua

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Myristica fatua, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Magnoliaales. Finally, it is a member of the family Myristicaceae and the genus Myristica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across the diverse landscapes of the Malesian botanical region. Within this area, it can be found growing in the tropical forests of Borneo and the Philippines. Its presence is also documented in the Indonesian archipelago, specifically within the Maluku islands and Sulawesi. Furthermore, the species extends its range into the Papuasian region, encompassing New Guinea. Together, these locations highlight the plant's significant presence throughout Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Myristica fatua is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it maintains its vegetative functions and lives for many years beyond its initial growth phases. As a long-lived woody plant, it undergoes a developmental progression from a seedling stage into a mature, stable individual that contributes to the forest ecosystem over multiple seasons. Unlike annuals or biennials that complete their life cycles in a single or double growing season, this perennial plant establishes a permanent presence, allowing it to undergo repeated reproductive cycles throughout its extended lifespan.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Myristica fatua is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, capable of reaching a significant plant height with a mean measurement of approximately 30 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly land-based existence. The plant is biologically independent, meaning it does not act as a parasite on other organisms. Furthermore, it is a self-supporting structure rather than a climber, lacking the vine or liana characteristics required for climbing, and instead relying on its sturdy, woody framework for structural integrity.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

30 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Myristica fatua is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. As a plant utilizing the C3 pathway, its carbon assimilation process is primarily driven by the enzyme RuBisCO, making its metabolic efficiency highly dependent on environmental moisture and temperature. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, thus relying instead on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil to support its nutritional requirements and growth.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Myristica fatua has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Artesunic acid, Homoegonol.

Artesunic acid

1. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)

Homoegonol

1. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Myristica fatua has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Caenorhabditis elegans, Trypanosoma brucei brucei, cough, dengue virus, fever.

Caenorhabditis elegans

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Trypanosoma brucei brucei

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cough

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dengue virus

1. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)

Fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Myristica fatua has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Methanolic and dichloromethane extracts, almond and aril extracts, almond extract.

Methanolic and dichloromethane extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Almond and aril extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Almond extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology