Volume 7 > Part 4 > Year 2002 > Page 769 > Myristicaceae > Myristica

1. Myristica cinnamomea Kingwfo-0000448154

Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Calcutta) 3: 292, pl. 116. 1891; Warb., Mon. Myrist. 445. 1897; J.Sinclair, Gard. Bull. Singapore 16: 358, fig. 28, pl. VII: A. 1958; l.c., 28: 210. 1968; W.J.de Wilde, Blumea 42: 156. 1997; Fl. Mal. 14: 431. 2000. Plate XXVII: 3.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Tree (7–)10–30 m. Twigs towards apex 1.5–2.5(4) mm diam., glabrescent, hairs ca 0.1 mm; bark lower down dark grey-brown to blackish, coarsely striate, not or but rarely flaking; lenticels absent. Leaves blade chartaceous or thinly coriaceous, elliptic-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 8–22 by 2–8 cm, base broadly acute or attenuate, apex acute(-acuminate); upper surface olivaceous, ± glossy, lower surface grey- or silvery-brown, sometimes tardily glabrescent, hairs dense, inconspicuous, ca 0.1 mm, with scattered brown hairs to ca 0.2 mm; not obviously papillose; dots absent; midrib flat above or somewhat raised, in a groove, lateral nerves 10–17 pairs, ± sunken, indistinct above, reticulation and marginal arches indistinct; petiole 12–22 by 1.5–3 mm; leaf bud 10–15 by 2–3 mm, hairs ca 0.1 mm. Inflorescences among the leaves, pedunculate, with mealy hairs, 0.1–0.2 mm; bracts ovate, 2–3 mm, caducous; in male: 1–2.5 cm long, peduncle 5–15 mm; lateral branches up to 5 mm, central axis to 10 mm or absent (or reduced to one flower), with subumbels of 5–8(–10) flowers, buds of different sizes; female inflorescence: an up to 3 mm pedunculate wart (rarely ± forked), with subumbel of 2–4 flowers. Flowers with hairs 0.1(–0.3) mm. Male flowers pedicel 3–6 by 0.5 mm, bracteole 1(–2) mm, (sub)apical, (tardily) caducous; bud ellipsoid-oblong, cylindrical or ± contracted in the middle, 5–7 by 2–3 mm, apex angled, lobes splitting the bud to ⅓–½ deep. Female slowers pedicel 2.5–4 mm; bud ovoid-ellipsoid, angled at apex, 5–6 by 2.5–3 mm, lobes splitting the bud to ⅓–½ deep. Infructescence 0.5–2 cm; fruits solitary or 2 (or 3), broadly ellipsoid or oblong, or ± pear-shaped, 5–9 by 2.5–5 cm, base rounded or subattenuate, hairs dense, mealy, rust-coloured, 0.1(–0.2) mm; stalk stoutish, 5–10 mm.

Thailand : PENINSULAR: Narathiwat.

Distribution : Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, rare in the Philippines.

Ecology : In Malaya locally common in lowland forests. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Vernacular : Chan pa (จันทน์ป่า)(Nakhon Si Thammarat).

Notes: Myristica cinnamomea is characterized by the persistent inconspicuous hairs on the lower leaf surface, the short hairs on the leaf buds and twig apices, the fruit with mealy tomentum.