SEEDS. 
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Allied Plants. — The seeds of P. cylindrosperum have 
been substituted for Calabar bean ; they are nearly 
cylindrical and are said also to contain physostigmine. 
MYRISTICA (Nutmeg). 
The kernel of the seed of Myristica fragrans (Fam. 
Myristicacese), a tree indigenous to the Molucca and 
neighboring islands, and now cultivated in other 
tropical regions, including the West Indies. The com- 
mercial supply is largely derived from the Malay 
Archipelago, from 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 of 
insects. 
Description. — Ellipsoidal, 20 to 30 mm. long, 15 to 
20 mm. in diameter; externally light 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, mottled 
by reason of the light-brown perisperm penetrating 
into the yellowish-brown endosperm, the shrunken 
embryo occurring in an irregular cavity about 4 or 5 
mm. long, near the micropyle; odor and taste aromatic 
and pleasant. 
Constituents. — Fixed oil, sometimes occurring in 
prismatic crystals, 25 to 40 per cent. ; volatile oil 2 to 
10 per cent.; proteids and starch. 
Inferior nutmegs, the product of other species of 
Myristica , sometimes find their way into commerce ; 
