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Myristica

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

>150; see text

Synonyms[1]
  • Aruana Burm.f.
  • Comacum Adans.
  • Palala Rumph. ex Kuntze
  • Sebophora Neck.

Myristica is a genus of trees in the family Myristicaceae. There are over 150 species, distributed in Asia and the western Pacific.[2]

The type species of the genus, and the most economically important member, is Myristica fragrans (the nutmeg tree), from which mace is also derived.

Etymology

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The name Myristica is from the Greek adjective myristikos, meaning ‘fragrant, for anointing’, referring to its early use.[3] The adjective is from the noun myron (‘perfume, ointment, anointing oil’).[4]

Description

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All or nearly all species are dioecious. Knuth (1904) however cites a report of trees being male in their sex expression when young and female later.[5] Perianth of 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 is Pollenhaufen (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 of Myristica species

There are 172 accepted Myristica species as of April 2021 according to Plants of the World Online.[1] Selected species include:

Some species of Myristica have been reclassified into the genus Virola by some botanical authorities. Taxa that have been reassigned, or otherwise removed from the genus include:

References

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  1. ^ a b "Myristica Gronov". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  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. ISBN 978-1-4822-5064-0. Myristica[...] From the Greek myristikos '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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