Myristica wyatt-smithii
Content
Description
Tree 12-25 cm.
Leaves membranous or chartaceous, elliptic-oblong or oblong-(ob)lanceolate, (15-)20-35 by (5-)6-12 cm, base cuneate, rarely ± rounded, apex acute-acuminate;
Inflorescences between the leaves or (KEP 52149, 63176; FRI 20025) axillary to fallen reduced leaves along up to 5 cm long lateral short-shoots with apical leaf bud;
Fruits 1 or 2 per infructescence, ellipsoid (-oblong), 5.5-8.5 by 3.5-4.5 cm, early or late glabrescent, hairs scurfy, pale brown, 0.1 (-0.2) mm or less (remnants of indumentum persistent in hidden places close to the fruit stalk);
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; Sumatera (Sumatera present), Peninsular Malesia present
Malesia: Peninsular Malesia (possibly Sumatra, Borneo, see notes 3 and 4).
Taxonomy
3 Some fruiting specimens from Borneo (S 16416, 42356; SAN 16808), probably close to M. extensa from which they differ mainly by glabrous (early glabrescent) fruits, key out besides M. wyatt-smithii. Possibly these specimens represent a separate, as yet undescribed species.
4 Some sterile collections from outside Peninsular Malaysia (Enggano I., off Sumatra, and Sepilok, Sabah) may belong to M. wyatt-smithii, and are discussed by De Wilde, I.e.
2 Mature fruits of FRI12553 have a rather persistent indumentum of more densely set longer hairs, 0.1-0.2 mm.
1 This species may be confused with M. iners and M. malaccensis. Myristica wyatt-smithii is distinguishable by its large, dull-drying leaves; the male flowers are larger than those of M. malaccensis, smaller than those of M. iners. The latter species furthermore differs in its smaller leaves and details of habit, twigs, leaves, flowers (incl. androecium), and fruits. In M. malaccensis the lines of interarching of the nerves on the lower leaf surface are more distinct.