Myristicaceae

Aromatic trees with alternate simple leaves that ooze a reddish sap when cut; flowers are unisexual on separate male and female trees, and the seed is famously wrapped in a bright red, lacy, fleshy covering (aril) harvested separately from the seed itself.

One tree yields two distinct spices from a single seed: the seed itself is nutmeg, while its lacy red aril, dried separately, becomes mace.

To check whether a plant belongs to Myristicaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.