Myristicaceae
Nutmeg family
Aromatic trees with characteristic seed covered by red mace (aril). Flowers dioecious. Includes nutmeg and related spice trees.
Browse all 7 species ↓
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.
Which Myristicaceae species is this?
Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Myristicaceae species.
How to recognise the Myristicaceae family
- 01
Leaf arrangement: alternate
- 02
Leaf type: simple
- 03
Growth forms: tree
- 04
Inflorescence: cymose
- 05
Fruit: berry with aril
Typical leaf characters
Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.
Typical flower & fruit
- Flower symmetryVariable
- InflorescenceVariable
- FruitCapsule
Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.
Notable members
All 7 species in MYRISTICACEAE
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