Myristica beddomei

King

Wild nutmeg

Myristicaceae Edible: Spice 40 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Myristica beddomei is a species of tree in the family Myristicaceae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, where it is frequent in the mid-elevation wet evergreen forests and an important food tree of hornbills. The species has been earlier misidentified in regional floras and herbarium specimens as Myristica dactyloides Gaertn., the latter occurring only in Sri Lanka.

Description

A tree. It keeps its leaves throughout the year. It grows about 12-25 m tall. The trunk is 40 cm across. The male and female flowers are on separate trees. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaf blade is 12-25 cm long by 4-10 cm wide. They are oblong or narrowly oval. The leaves are shiny above and dull and waxy underneath. The male flowers are in groups of 10-20 on short stalks in dense clusters in the axils of leaves. The female flowers are in groups of 3-4. The fruit are 3-7 cm long and 4-6 cm wide. It has a single hard seed covered by an orange-yellow aril. This is deeply cut into many lobes. The ripe fruit fall and then split open on the ground. There are some subspecies.

Edible Uses

The seed is used as a spice.

Medicinal Uses

The aril is used medicinally.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in mid-altitude evergreen forests in the Western Ghats in India. It grows between 1,000-1,500 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, India, Sri Lanka,

Cultivation

In nature, fruit are spread by monkeys and squirrels.

Propagation

Seed - dries out easily, loses its viability rapidly, and cannot be stored. It is best sown in a shaded position in a nursery seedbed - germination is usually fairly quick with the seed of most species sprouting within 2 - 17 weeks. Grow the young plants on in a shady position, planting them out in their permanent positions when large enough.

Other Uses

The red sap (kino), present in the bark of most species in this genus, can be used as a dye that gives a permanent brown stain. The seed contains up to 24% of a light yellow fat. The heartwood is a light reddish-brown; it is not clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The wood is moderately hard. It is used for making tea chests. We have no further information for this species, but the following is the general information for the wood of trees in this genus:- The heartwood can be dark reddish brown to light yellow-brown or brown with occasional pink tinge and dark red-purple stripes; it is not clearly differentiated from the paler sapwood. A blood red core is found in some species. The grain is straight; the texture is rather fine to slightly coarse and even; somewhat lustrous; without characteristic odour or taste. Growth rings are distinct, demarcated by layers of terminal parenchyma. The wood is mostly soft or moderately hard and moderately heavy; it is not durable, but is easily treated with preservatives. The wood dries rather slowly but with little degrade, though thin stock tends to warp. It is easy to work with, but sometimes easily splitting; planning is easy, with a smooth to moderately smooth finish; drilling and turning are easy with a smooth finish; nailing properties are generally good with some tendency to splitting. A light hardwood, it is mainly used for light construction work, partitioning, flooring, wall-panelling, moulding and other types of interior finishing, and for making tool-handles, woodcrafts, match boxes and splints, packing cases, crates, and household utensils. It is also suitable for manifacturing plywood, rotary veneer and wrapping and writing papers.