Myristica maingayi
Content
Description
Tree 10-40 m.
Leaves chartaceous or (thinly) coriaceous, elliptic-oblong or oblong-lanceolate (rarely linear-oblong), 12-28 by 4-8.5 cm, base rounded or short-attenuate, apex acute-acuminate;
Inflorescences between the leaves or below, pedunculate, with hairs 1(—1.5) mm;
Fruits 1 or 2 per infructescence, broadly ovoid-ellipsoid, 7-9 by 5-6 cm (but see note 2), glabrescent, hairs rust-coloured, mealy, 0.5 mm;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present, Singapore present); Sumatera (Sumatera present); Thailand (Thailand present)
Thailand; Malesia: Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore; possibly Sumatra (see note 2).
Taxonomy
2 This species is variable especially in the size of the leaves. FRI17603 (Chan) and KEP 77818 (Jabil), both from Peninsular Malaysia, differ from the rest of the material of M. maingayi in stouter twigs with coarsely striate older bark, neither cracking nor flaking, in slightly broader leaves, and mainly in the smaller fruits, 4.5-5 by 3.5 cm, with subpersistent mealy light brown indumentum. Possibly these two specimens represent a separate taxon, but more fruiting and flowering material is needed to make a decision. Krukoff 4384 (Sumatra, East Coast) differs in its smaller fruits, 6.5 by 4 cm, with a spongy-woody pericarp, so that it did not dry coarsely wrinkled as in the Malaysian specimens. It is the only collection of M. maingayi known from Sumatra. This specimen was also discussed separately by Sinclair (1968: 166).
1 Related to M. gigantea and M. lowiana (series Maingayae of Sinclair, I.e.); for differences see the keys.