Myristica dasycarpa
Content
Description
Tree c. 10 m.
Leaves membranous or thinly chartaceous, oblong, 32-47 by 13-19 cm, base (narrowly) cordate, apex broadly acute-acuminate;
Fruits subsessile, 2 or 3 per sessile knotty infructescence, on older twigs below the leaves, ovoid-ellipsoid, 3.5-4 by 2 cm, apex narrowly rounded or (sub)acute, base broadly rounded, velutinous, with rufous-rusty hairs 0.5-1 mm;
Distribution
Ambunti subprov present, Asia-Tropical, East Sepik Prov present, Northern Papua New Guinea present, Waskuk Hills, area around Langu and Garuka villages present
Malesia: northern Papua New Guinea (East Sepik Prov., Ambunti subprov., Waskuk Hills, area around Langu and Garuka villages); known only from the type.
Taxonomy
1 Myristica dasycarpa is readily distinguishable among the New Guinean myrmecophilous Myristicas by its thick alate twigs and large leaves, and its subsessile fruits, 3.5-4 cm long, with velvety hairs to 1 mm, forming the most conspicuous indumentum of the group.
2 Male flowers of this species are not known with certainty. Brass 13706 (Papua Barat, Idenburg River, in flood plain forest at 850 m) possibly belongs here; in L it has inflorescences with immature male flowers and separate fruits, the latter obviously belonging to M. subalulata. The male inflorescence is a wart-like brachyblast, 3-4 mm, pubescent, glabrescent, bracts 1.5 mm, subumbel of 5 or 6 flowers, buds of variable sizes; male flowers: pedicel slender, 6 mm, bracteole 2 mm; buds (immature) ellipsoid, 5-6 by 3.5 mm, not collapsing on drying, cleft c. 1/3?, lobes 0.5 mm thick; androecium 4 mm; androphore narrow, 1 mm, almost glabrous; synandrium 3 by 1 mm, acute, thecae c. 28, sterile apex ± absent.