Myristica fatua var. fatua

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Myristica fatua var. fatua

Description

Inflorescences to 10 mm pedunculate. Fruits ellipsoid, 4-6.5 cm, velvety-tomentose, hairs 0.5-1 mm long;

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Maluku (Maluku present), Mindanao present, S Philippines present, SE Kalimantan present, W New Guinea present
MalesiaSE Kalimantan, S Philippines (Mindanao), Moluccas, W New Guinea (see note 2).

Taxonomy

4 Sinclair (I.e.) included in var. fatua both M. mindanaensis and M. nivea, but these are here restored as separate species, e.g. distinguishable by their less hairy or almost glabrous lower leaf blades and smaller fruits. 1 Specimens from Halmahera (Pleyte 175, de Vogel 3301, 3431, 3495, 3497, and possibly bb 23201 from Bacan) differ from M. fatua subsp. fatua in the indumentum of their flowers with relatively rough and long hairs, in the 2-angled twigs, in smaller 3.5-4 cm long fruits, with short 2-3 mm long fruiting pedicels, and in a short androphore that is short-hairy (more slender and almost glabrous in the plants from the rest of the Moluccas). 2 Two collections from western New Guinea (Papua Barat) key out to M. fatua subsp. fatua: Docters van Leeuwen 9856 with immature male flowers, and Kloss s.n. with fruits, 4(-4.5) cm, fruiting pedicels 10 mm long, and short hairs 0.2-0.3 mm only. Both specimens may represent a separate taxon within M. fatua. The Kloss specimen approaches M. ingrata subsp. velata, which differs in ant-swellings in the twigs and in smaller fruits. 3 The only collection from Borneo (Kuswata 886, male fl., SE Kalimantan, from limestone near Jaro) is far outside the main distributional area of subsp. fatua. It has a stout habit, with ± coriaceous leaves, broadly rounded at the base, and its flowers agree with those from the Moluccas. Study of more specimens may reveal that it represents a separate taxon.

Citation

Merr. 1923 – In: Enum. Philipp. Flow. pl.: 180
J. Sinclair 1968: p. 269. – In: Gard. Bull. Sing.: f. 30