Myristica papillatifolia

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Myristica papillatifolia

Description

Small tree c. 4 m. Leaves membranous, elliptic-oblong, 6-11 by 1.5-3 cm, base long-attenuate, apex acute(-acuminate); Inflorescences (from in-fructescence) of the Knema-type: a sessile, simple, short tubercle-like brachyblast. Male and female flowers not seen. Fruits axillary to leaf scars below the leaves, solitary, ellipsoid-fusiform, 3-3.3 by 1.5-1.7 cm, apex narrowly 2(-3) mm beaked, base narrowed into a slender 5(-7) mm long pseudostalk, hairs dull, mealy, grey-brown, interwoven, less than 0.1 mm, appearing as if glabrous;

Distribution

Asia-Tropical, Central Papua New Guinea present, Western Province, Kiunga sub-prov., near Ingembit (Ingambet, border area) present
Malesia: Central Papua New Guinea (Western Province, Kiunga sub-prov., near Ingembit (Ingambet, border area)); known only from the type.

Taxonomy

Distinguishable among the smaller-leaved New Guinean Myristicas with Knema-typc inflorescences by the leaves with lateral nerves steeply running from the midrib (c. 45°), the distinctly papillose lower surface, and the delicately built, broadly fusiform fruits, conspicuously narrowed at both ends, with a thin pericarp bearing a very thin indumentum, almost as if it is glabrous.