Myristica pygmaea
Content
Description
Treelet 2-4 m.
Leaves membranous or thinly chartaceous, oblong, 8—15(—17.5) by 3-5(-6.5) cm, base short-attenuate or rounded, apex acute-acuminate, often with ± blunt tip;
Inflorescences (from infructescences) between the (lower) leaves, axillary or up to 3 mm supra-axillary, ± paniculate, peduncle 3-4 mm long, ending in a small, scar-covered brachyblast with few flowers, partly late glabrescent, hairs dark brown (rusty), 0.3-0.5 mm;
Fruits (slightly immature) solitary, ± ellipsoid, 2.5-2.7 by 1.5 cm, apex subacute, narrowed towards the base, hairs powdery, rust-coloured, 0.3-0.4 mm;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, Morobe Prov present, Mumeng & Lae sub-prov present, Papua New Guinea present
Malesia: Papua New Guinea (Morobe Prov., Mumeng & Lae sub-prov.); locally endemic to that area.
Taxonomy
Distinguishable by its small stature, 2-4 m. Superficially resembling other small-statured species of Papua New Guinea and possibly most related to M. cylindrocarpa or to the montane M. sinclairii, all with pedunculate inflorescences, partly supra-axillary to the leaves, but M. pygmaea is different in indumentum and fruits. The species is known only with fruits; female flowers apparently have a comparatively short pedicel.