| Myristicaceae | |
|---|---|
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| Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg), Koehler (1887) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Magnoliales |
| Family: | Myristicaceae R.Br.[2] |
| Genera | |
See text | |
TheMyristicaceae are afamily offlowering plants native to Africa, Asia, Pacific islands, and the Americas[3] and has been recognized by most taxonomists. It is sometimes called the "nutmeg family", after its most famous member,Myristica fragrans, the source of the spicesnutmeg and mace. The best known genera areMyristica inAsia andVirola in theNeotropics.
The family consists of about 21 genera with about 520 species[4] of trees, shrubs and rarely lianas (Pycnanthus) found in tropical forests around the world. Most of the species are large trees that are valued in the timber industry.
They are typically trees with reddish sap and distinctive pagoda-like growth (known as myristicaceous branching) in which horizontal branching only occurs at certain nodes along the main axis of the trunk, each node separated by a large gap where no branching occurs. All genera aredioecious, exceptEndocomia and someIryanthera. The inner bark is usually pink to reddish or light colored then oxidizing as such. When cut, the tree trunk exudes a red or orange resin; stems and young twigs often will exude clear sap (not colored) that may smell spicy. The foliage is generally spicy-aromatic and the leaves are glossy, dark green, simple, entire, 2-ranked, undersides often whitish or tomentose, with dark brown punctations or not, usually with complex caducous hairs colored golden yellow to red. The flowers are usually small, highly reduced, fragrant, with 3-5 tepals, inner perianth whitish-green, yellow, orange, reddish-pink to rusty-brown, arranged in axillary paniculate inflorescences or unbranched wart-like structures (likeKnema). The female flowers are without staminodes, with stigmas often lobed. The male flowers with fused stamens arranged in a synandrium. Pollen is monosulcate, often boat-shaped.
The fruit is a leathery dehiscent capsule, with rusty indument or not,[5] containing a single seed that is arillate or not; when present, the aril variously laciniate or entire. In most genera, the aril is colored red but also can be orange or white and translucent. The single seed has ruminate endosperm and is uniform in color or rarely with black blotches (Compsoneura).
Many species within the family exhibit highly complex phytochemistry with numerous compounds having been described from the leaves, bark, fruits, arils, and seeds of many species.
In theAPG IV system of 2016, Myristaceae are placed in the orderMagnoliales in themagnoliids clade.[6] The genera placed in the family are related as shown in the following cladogram:[citation needed]
| Myristicaceae | |
As of November 2023[update],Plants of the World Online accepted the following genera:[7]
Myristicaceae are found in humid lowland forests, swamp forests, submontane forests, andcloud forests at elevations up to 2100 m. Some of the anatomical characters presented by this family suggest that in the past they could live in xeric (dry) environments, but now their species are linked to tropical rainforests.[citation needed]
The species presentanthesis at night, andpollination is usually carried out by small beetles from theAnthicidae family that resemble ants and consume pollen (e.g.,Myristica fragrans is probably pollinated by the beetleFormicomus braminus).[8] The strong floral scent that attracts beetles emerges from the ends of the connectives of thestamens. However,Myristica is probably pollinated by true ants, a case ofmyrmecophily.[citation needed]
A fewNew GuineaMyristica species have evolved hollow stem swellings in which ants reside. This facilitates a mutualistic relationship known asmyrmecophily, and is similar to that ofCecropia.[9]
The most important products of the family by far are thenutmeg andmace spices, both derived from respectively the seed and aril ofMyristica fragrans, a tree native to theMoluccas. A hallucinogenic snuff (containing a derivative oftryptamine) that is used by certain Amazonian tribes is obtained from the bark ofVirola elongata and other closely related species. The wood of some Asian and American species has local commercial use, as is the case ofOtoba parvifolia in South America.
Essential oils of Myristicaceae haveantifungal action and antimicrobial activity againstStreptococcus mutans.[citation needed] The dark-redresin of the tree bark in some genera, such asVirola, contains severalhallucinogenicalkaloids.Myristicin poisoning can induceconvulsions,palpitations, nausea, eventualdehydration, and generalized body pain.[citation needed] It is also reputed to be a strongdeliriant,[10] and some fatal myristicin poisonings in humans have occurred.[11]
A fossil seed of †Myristicacarpum chandlerae from the earlyEoceneLondon Clay flora of southernEngland is the earliest record of Myristicaceae.[12]
Media related toMyristicaceae at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toMyristicaceae at Wikispecies| National | |
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| Other | |
