Myristica simiarum
Content
Description
Tree 5-15 m.
Leaves:
Fruits globose or broadly ellipsoid, (1.5-)2-2.5(-3) by 1.5-2(-2.5) cm, apex rounded or up to 1.5 mm long beaked, base rounded or contracted into a pseudostalk up to 2 mm long and 2-4 mm broad;
Distribution
Asia-Temperate: Taiwan (Taiwan present), Asia-Tropical: Philippines (Philippines present), Batan present, Botel Tobago Is present, Luzon present, Mindanao present, Samar present
Taiwan (Botel Tobago Is., no specimens seen); Malesia: Philippines (Luzon, Samar, Mindanao, Batan).
Taxonomy
2 The type subspecies, occurring throughout the Philippines, is remarkably variable, whereas the other two subspecies seem rather uniform.
The leaves of many specimens from Luzon dry conspicuously blackish above, and grey or almost whitish below. Some specimens have relatively large male flowers, while others have remarkably small flowers on slender inflorescences. The fruits dry blackish as well. The leaves of specimens from Samar and Mindanao are (olivaceous) brown above and grey-brown beneath; possibly these specimens always have brown fruits when dry. In some collections the leaves have minute whitish dots beneath, in others these are lacking. In some specimens from Luzon the leaves (drying blackish or olivaceous) are verruculose or scabrous, caused by crustations in the leaf tissue, but possibly this feature has little taxonomic merit. 1 Anthers possibly 6-10; the thecae are narrow and closely appressed so that the number of anthers is difficult to count.
The leaves of many specimens from Luzon dry conspicuously blackish above, and grey or almost whitish below. Some specimens have relatively large male flowers, while others have remarkably small flowers on slender inflorescences. The fruits dry blackish as well. The leaves of specimens from Samar and Mindanao are (olivaceous) brown above and grey-brown beneath; possibly these specimens always have brown fruits when dry. In some collections the leaves have minute whitish dots beneath, in others these are lacking. In some specimens from Luzon the leaves (drying blackish or olivaceous) are verruculose or scabrous, caused by crustations in the leaf tissue, but possibly this feature has little taxonomic merit. 1 Anthers possibly 6-10; the thecae are narrow and closely appressed so that the number of anthers is difficult to count.
Citation
Kaneh. 1936: Formos. Trees, rev. ed: 194
Hui-Lin Li 1963: Woody Flora Taiwan: 195
W. J. de Wilde 1997 – In: Blumea: 184
J. Sinclair 1968: 62 (key) 190. – In: Gard. Bull. Sing.: f. 12A-E, I-J.
Merr. 1923 – In: Enum. Philipp. Flow. PL: 180
Elmer 1947: Index Kew.: 149
Kudo & Masam. 1932 – In: Ann. Rep. Taihoku Bot. Gard.: 89
Warb. 1897: Mon. Myrist: 397: t. 13
A.DC 1856 – In: Prodr.: 192
A.DC 1917: Gen. Index FI. Formos.: 61
Hayata 1913 – In: Icon. PL Formos.: 156