Myristica polyantha
Content
Description
Tree 25-30 m.
Leaves coriaceous, ellipsoid-oblong or obovoid-oblong, 7-17 by 3-9 cm, base (short-)attenuate, apex acute-acuminate, the very tip rather blunt;
Inflorescences of the Knema-type:
Fruits (immature) 1 or 2 per infructescence, globose, 2.5(-3) cm diameter, hairs (grey-)rusty, mealy, 0.1 mm;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, Goodenough I present, Milne Bay Prov present, Papua New Guinea present, Tagula I present
Malesia: Papua New Guinea (Milne Bay Prov., Goodenough I. and possibly Tagula I., but see note 2).
Taxonomy
1 Related to the variable M. globosa and to M. laevifolia. The former is mainly a lowland species, with thinner leaves and flowers with thinner perianth, narrower androecium, smaller bracteole, and fruits with thinner pericarp; M. laevifolia has very similar male flowers, with extremely thin indumentum, but the fruits differ in their elongate shape.
3 Myristica polyantha may be related to M. tenuivenia subsp. lignosa, with similar globose, thick-walled fruits, but the latter differs in the (±) persistent indumentum of the lower leaf surface and a more conspicuous fruit coat, with hairs (0.2-)0.5 mm. The taxonomic status of M. polyantha needs confirmation by more field study.
2 Brass 27918 (male, Tagula I., 300 m altitude) differs in its non-contrasting veins.