Myristica womersleyi (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Myristica womersleyi J. Sinclair

Family: Myristicaceae

Distribution

North-eastern New Guinea.

Uses

The seed is said to be intensely aromatic and a possible source of spice and oil. It is also used as a bait in possum traps.

Observations

• Tree, up to 27 m tall with tomentose, rust-coloured twigs.
• Leaves oblong, 14-20 cm × 5.5-9 cm, brown-haired beneath; petiole up to 1.3 cm long.
• Flowers not yet known.
• Fruit globose, 6-9 cm in diameter, brown-haired, on a stalk 0.5 cm long.
• Seed globose, 5 cm in diameter, strongly aromatic; aril divided into numerous narrow segments.

M. womersleyi is common but restricted to the eastern highlands of north-eastern New Guinea (Michael and Piora Mountains) at altitudes 800-2300 m.

Selected sources

• Foreman, D.B., 1978. Myristicacea. In: Womersley, J.S. (Editor): Handbooks of the flora of Papua New Guinea. Vol. 1. Government of Papua New Guinea, Melbourne University Press, Australia. pp. 175-215.

Authors

P.C.M. Jansen