Myristica cumingii
Content
Description
Tree 6-20 m.
Leaves membranous or chartaceous, elliptic-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 8.5-28 by 2.5-9 cm, base cuneate, apex subacute to acute-acuminate;
Inflorescences among the leaves or below, ± as in Knema\ in male:
Fruits 1 or 2 per infructescence, broadly ovoid, sub-globose, or ellipsoid, 3-5(-5.5) by 2.5-4.5 cm, hairs dense, rusty-brown, ± mealy, 0.1-0.2(-0.3) mm;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Philippines (Philippines present), Bililar present, Leyte present, Luzon present, Mindanao present, Mindoro present, Negros present, Samar present, Sibuyan present, Ticao present
Malesia: Philippines (Luzon, Mindoro, Sibuyan, Ticao, Samar, Leyte, Bililar, Negros, Mindanao).
Taxonomy
3 Most (but not all) specimens from Mindoro differ from the remainder of the material from all over the Philippines in a more delicate habit, a thinner leaf blade, drying more greenish above and paler below (possibly caused by the presence of scattered papillae), 6-13 pairs of lateral nerves, male inflorescences with slender peduncles (5-15 mm), and relatively small, ellipsoid fruits 3-4 cm long and a 3-4 mm thick pericarp. Whether these collections represent a separate taxon remains as yet uncertain, but it is noted that one of the syntypes of M. cumingii, Cuming 1570 (male, also depicted by Warburg, 1. c: t. 3), represents this different form, and possibly the type of synonymous M. mindorensis, Merritt 3698, as well.
1 Although much resembling M. ceylanica from Sri Lanka in appearance, I cannot agree with Sinclair (I.e.), who considered M. cumingii as identical. Differences are, for instance, the possibly yellow aril of M. ceylanica, and the not at all angular perianth in that species.
The widespread M. iners and the Palawan-endemic M. umbellata much resemble M. cumingii; M. iners differs in paniculate inflorescences and early glabrescent fruits while inM. cumingii the inflorescences are usually subsessile brachyblasts. Myristica umbellata, with rather small glabrescent fruits, at first with minute hairs, may be very similar to M. cumingii. The former differs in its more delicate appearance, smaller fruits, a male inflorescence presumably lasting but one flowering season, more delicately built male flowers with relatively long and slender pedicel, and especially in the distinctive papillae on the lower leaf surface, and bracteole borne well below the perianth in female flowers. 2 Myristica cumingii is variable in its fruits: shape and size, thickness of the pericarp, and the length of the hairs; their shapes range from ellipsoid to nearly globose.
The widespread M. iners and the Palawan-endemic M. umbellata much resemble M. cumingii; M. iners differs in paniculate inflorescences and early glabrescent fruits while inM. cumingii the inflorescences are usually subsessile brachyblasts. Myristica umbellata, with rather small glabrescent fruits, at first with minute hairs, may be very similar to M. cumingii. The former differs in its more delicate appearance, smaller fruits, a male inflorescence presumably lasting but one flowering season, more delicately built male flowers with relatively long and slender pedicel, and especially in the distinctive papillae on the lower leaf surface, and bracteole borne well below the perianth in female flowers. 2 Myristica cumingii is variable in its fruits: shape and size, thickness of the pericarp, and the length of the hairs; their shapes range from ellipsoid to nearly globose.