nutmeg tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• nutmeg-tree
• Nutmeg
• mace

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aruana silvestris
• Myristica aromatica
• Myristica amboinensis
• Myristica laurella
• Myristica moschata
• Myristica philippinensis
• Palala fragrans

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Myristica fragrans, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Magnoliales. It is further classified into the family Myristicaceae and the genus Myristica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several tropical and subtropical regions across the globe. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Its presence extends significantly into the Western Indian Ocean, where it is native to Comoros, Mauritius, and Réunion. Additionally, the species reaches into East Asia, specifically within the South-Central regions of China. Together, these locations highlight the wide environmental range inhabited by Myristica fragrans.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Myristica fragrans is defined by its preference for tropical maritime environments, thriving primarily in low-lying coastal regions and humid lowland areas. It occupies a specific vertical niche within its habitat, characterized by an elevational range that begins at 0 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. This species typically flourishes in well-drained, alluvial, or sandy soils, requiring high humidity and consistent rainfall to support its growth. Its distribution is heavily influenced by maritime influences, as it is well-adapted to the warm, moist conditions found near coastal belts, where it benefits from stable temperatures and high atmospheric moisture.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Myristica fragrans is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, ensuring a long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located on aerial shoots well above the ground, a structural adaptation that supports its growth as a woody tree. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year without undergoing a seasonal shedding period, providing continuous photosynthetic activity. Its biological classification as a phanerophyte is consistent across its life stages, defining its stature and survival strategy within tropical environments.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Myristica fragrans is characterized by its stature as a woody tree, reaching an average height of approximately 15 m. As a terrestrial species, it grows independently in its environment without functioning as an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant exhibits a self-supporting growth habit, maintaining a sturdy, upright structure rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. Its robust, woody constitution supports its development as a large, non-aquatic tree within its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Myristica fragrans is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells, a common trait among many tropical woody perennials. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic associations with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into biologically available forms. Consequently, its metabolic processes depend on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Myristica fragrans is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects. The plant produces relatively small flowers, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds that exhibit significant variability in size; the seed mass ranges from a minimum of 0.6667 g to a maximum of 14.2857 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 7.7928 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, meaning they are spread through the actions of animals, which is a critical component of the species' reproductive cycle and spatial distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower length max:

0.5 cm

Flower length min:

0.4 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

14.2857 g

Seed mass mean:

7.7928 g

Seed mass min:

0.6667 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Myristica fragrans has 2 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, fruit.

Seed

1. Frontiers in nutrition
2. Environmental science and pollution research international
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society
5. Journal of natural products

Fruit

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Myristica fragrans has 205 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Myristicin, Elemicin, Dehydrodiisoeugenol, Malabaricone B, Malabaricone C.

Myristicin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Elemicin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences
4. Fitoterapia
5. Natural product communications

Dehydrodiisoeugenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Food science & nutrition

Malabaricone B

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products
3. Food science & nutrition
4. Natural product communications

Malabaricone C

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products
3. Food science & nutrition
4. Natural product communications

eugenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

safrole

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Food science & nutrition

Flavonoids

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Food science & nutrition

LICARIN A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Natural product communications

LICARIN B

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of pharmacal research
3. Natural product communications

Activities

Myristica fragrans has 639 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Environmental science and pollution research international
4. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
5. Food chemistry

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology
3. Planta medica
4. Experimental and therapeutic medicine
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
4. Journal of natural products
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Planta medica
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
3. Food chemistry
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Food science & nutrition

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Food science & nutrition

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Food science & nutrition

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product communications
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Japanese journal of pharmacology

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology
3. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Medicinal Uses

Myristica fragrans has 52 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress, inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, diarrhea, malaria.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations