Myristica arfakensis
Content
Description
Tree 6-10 m.
Leaves chartaceous or subcoriaceous (brittle), ± ovate-elliptic or oblong, 5-12 by 1.5-5 cm, base (short-)attenuate, apex up to 1 cm acute-acuminate;
Inflorescences axillary or to 4 mm supra-axillary, between the leaves or below, early glabrescent, indumentum minute, peduncle slightly flattened, smooth, 5-10 by 1-1.5 mm, ending in a short scar-covered brachyblast;
Fruits generally solitary, ellipsoid-oblong, 3 by 1.5 cm, apex acute, base contracted into a pseudostalk up to 5 mm long, hairs dull-brown, scurfy, less than 0.1 mm;
Distribution
Arfak Mts present, Asia-Tropical, NE Bird's Head present, Papua Barat present
Malesia: Papua Barat (NE Bird's Head, Arfak Mts).
Taxonomy
Obviously related to M. pachyphylla, with which it has the brown-black dots on the lower leaf surface and the general habit in common, but in M. pachyphylla the dots are small, while in M. arfakensis they are readily visible with the naked eye. Myristica pachyphylla furthermore differs in its larger, more elongate male flowers and larger fruits (4 cm).