NUTMEG 203 



dextrose, tannin, and amorphous products. (Power, Pharm. Journ., 

 1911, p. 743.) 



MYRISTICACE-E, OR NUTMEG FAMILY 



A small family consisting of about 80 species of tropical trees 

 and shrubs. The leaves are entire and evergreen, the flowers are 

 small, and the plants are dioecious. The fruit is a fl ^shy capsule and 

 the seeds are covered by a fleshy arillus. The family is furthermore 

 characterized by the presence of spheroidal secretion cells, containing 

 a semi-fluid or crystalline oily substance, which is variously colored 

 from yellow or red to brownish-black. The cells possess suberized 

 walls and are distributed in all parts of the plant. Calcium oxalate 

 occurs in the form of small needle-shaped crystals, which frequently 

 are arranged in aggregates. The hairs are of the stellate type and 

 are very characteristic for several of the species. 



MYRISTICA. Nutmeg. The kernel of the seed of Myristica 

 fragrans (Fam. Myristicacese), a tree indigenous to the Molucca and 

 neighboring islands, and now extensively cultivated in other tropical 

 regions, including the West Indies. The commercial supply is 

 largely derived from the Malay Archipelago, whence it is shipped to 

 Amsterdam and London. The testa and arillode are removed, the 

 latter constituting mace. With the exception of those from Penang, 

 nutmegs are not infrequently partially coated with lime to protect 

 them from the attacks by insects. The Banda Islands produce a 

 large part of the world's supply of nutmegs, as well as the other spices, 

 and the term " Banda " when applied to either nutmeg or mace 

 indicates a superior quality. 



Description. Ellipsoidal, 20 to 30 mm. in length, 15 to 20 mm. 

 in diameter; externally lignt brown, usually whitish from a dressing 

 of lime, reticulately furrowed, at one end a white, smooth projection 

 3 to 5 mm. in diameter, in the center of which is the micropyle, the 

 chalaza indicated near the other end by a slight, dark depression 

 from which there extends a more or less distinct furrow indicating 

 the position of the raphe; easily cut, the surface having a waxy 

 luster, and mottled by reason of the light-brown perisperm penetrat- 

 ing into the yellowish-brown endosperm, the shrunken embryo lying 

 in an irregular cavity about 4 or 5 mm. in length, near the micropyle; 

 odor and taste aromatic and pleasant. 



Inner Structure. See Fig. 87. 



Powder. Dark reddish-brown; numerous irregular yellowish- 

 brown or brownish-black fragments of secondary perisperm, showing 



