Myristica byssacea
Content
Description
Tree 6-7 m.
Leaves subchartaceous, elliptic-oblong, 10-16 by 3-5.5 cm, base attenuate to nearly rounded, apex acute-acuminate with conspicuous acumen up to 2.5 cm;
Inflorescences (known only from female inflorescences and infructescence):
Fruits single or in pairs, broadly ovoid-ellipsoid, 2.5-3 by 2-2.3 cm, apex rounded with apiculum 1.5 mm, base broadly rounded and contracted into 3 mm long pseudostalk, hairs dull brown, scurfy, 0.1 mm or less;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, Northern Pro v. at Isuarava present, Papua New Guinea present
Malesia: Papua New Guinea (Northern Pro v. at Isuarava); known only from two collections.
Morphology
1 Female flowering and fruiting specimens are well depicted by Sinclair (1. c: f. 59) under M. flosculosa.
2 The epithet alludes to the cottony appearance of especially the lower leaf surface, which is covered by a dull, yellowish brown, very thin indumentum. Other characteristic features are the angular twigs, and the scalariform tertiary venation of the leaves.