Myristica is a genus of trees in the family Myristicaceae. There are over 150 species, distributed in Asia and the western Pacific.The type species of the genus, and the most economically important member, is Myristica fragrans (the nutmeg tree), from which mace is also derived. Etymology The name Myristica is from the Greek adjective myristikos, meaning ‘fragrant, for anointing’, referring to its early use. The adjective is from the noun myron (‘perfume, ointment, anointing oil’). Description All or nearly all species are dioecious. Knuth (1904) however cites a report of trees being male in their sex expression when young and female later. Perianth of one whorl of three largely united segments. Stamens two to thirty, partly or wholly united. The ovary is superior, consisting of a single uniovulate carpel. Species in this genus use secondary pollen...