Myristica verruculosa
Content
Description
Tree 15 m.
Leaves chartaceous, (elliptic-)oblong, 20-32 by 8-13 cm, base broadly rounded or shallowly cordate, apex acute(-acuminate);
Inflorescences between the leaves or below, of the Knema-type: a simple or forked brachyblast, to 10 mm long, with stout peduncle to 5 mm, glabrescent;
Fruits in sessile clusters of 1-3, (ovoid-) oblong, 3.5-5 by 2.5 cm, apex acute, base broadly rounded, hairs rusty, 0.5 mm;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, Bird's Head: E of Sorong present, Bombarai Peninsula present, Papua Barat present
Malesia: Papua Barat (Bird's Head: E of Sorong, and Bombarai Peninsula).
Taxonomy
Related and similar to M. bialata, M. fissiflora, M. hollrungii, M. ingrata, andM. subcordata, and especially close to M. bialata, a species of the Bismarck Archipelago; M. verruculosa is distinguishable by the fine warty structure within the perianth. A warty inner perianth, however, is shared with M. fissiflora, but that species differs in its deeper cleft male perianth. Myristica ingrata usually has ant-holes in the twigs, a glabrescent lower leaf surface, and much smaller flowers (except var. velata); M. hollrungii grows in swampy areas, and equally has smaller flowers and (sub)glabrous leaves; M. subcordata, with similar persistent leaf indumentum, has smaller and more narrow male perianths, with a caducous bracteole; M. bialata has similarly stout male flowers, but differs in the lower number (10 or 12) of thecae (16 or 18 in M. verruculosa), shorter perianth lobes, the (almost) absence of a warty inner surface, and it has a glabrescent lower leaf surface (densely short-felty in the present species).