CHAPTER III 
NUTMEGS AND MACE 
These spices are the produce of the East Asian nutmeg 
tree, Myristica moschata, Linn., belonging to the order 
Myristicaceae. This order contains the single genus 
Myristica, of which upwards of 100 species are known, 
scattered all over the tropics, but in greatest abundance 
in the Malayan region. Although so large a number of 
wild nutmegs are known, only one species contains 
enough of the aromatic principle Myristicin to be of 
any value for cultivation. There are, however, a few 
others which are slightly aromatic, and occasionally 
collected by natives and exported to Europe, more as 
adulterants of the true nutmeg or its extracts, than for 
separate use. The larger number of species known 
possess no aroma and are quite valueless. A certain 
number, however, produce an essential oil from the 
crushed seed which is valued for soap-making and other 
purposes. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT 
The nutmeg plant is a somewhat bushy tree, about 
30 or 40 ft. in height, though as grown in the Malay 
Peninsula it is usually much smaller. The bark is of a 
rather dark-grey colour. The branches are spreading, 
and, as a rule, are produced nearly to the base of 
the trunk. The leaves are alternate lanceolate and 
acuminate, with a rather long point and narrowed to- 
wards the base, to the short leaf-stalk. They are about 
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