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	\| image_caption = ''Myristica fragrans'' (Nutmeg), Koehler (1887)		\| image_caption = ''Myristica fragrans'' (Nutmeg), Koehler (1887)
	\| taxon = Myristicaceae		\| taxon = Myristicaceae
	\| authority = [[Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)\|R.Br.]]<ref name=APGIII2009>{{Cite journal \|last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group \|year=2009 \|title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III \|journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society \|volume=161 \|issue=2 \|pages=105–121 \|url=http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1095-8339.2003.t01-1-00158.x/pdf \| format= PDF \|access-date=2013-07-06 \|doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x \|doi-access=free \|hdl=10654/18083 \|hdl-access=free }}</ref>		\| authority = [[Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)\|R.Br.]]<ref name=APGIII2009>{{Cite journal \|last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group \|year=2009 \|title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III \|journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society \|volume=161 \|issue=2 \|pages=105–121 \|url=http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1095-8339.2003.t01-1-00158.x/pdf \| format= PDF \|access-date=2013-07-06 \|doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x \|doi-access=free \|hdl=10654/18083 \|hdl-access=free \|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
	\| subdivision_ranks = Genera		\| subdivision_ranks = Genera
	\| subdivision = See text		\| subdivision = See text

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{{Short description|Family of flowering plants}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = {{fossil range|Eocene|recent|[[Eocene]] - recent|ref=<ref name=mobot>{{Cite web |title=Magnoliales|url=https://www.mobot.org/mobot/research/apweb/orders/magnolialesweb.htm|access-date=2023-06-18|website=www.mobot.org}}</ref>}}
| image = Myristica_fragrans_-_Köhler–s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-097.jpg
| image_caption = ''Myristica fragrans'' (Nutmeg), Koehler (1887)
| taxon = Myristicaceae
| authority = [[Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)|R.Br.]]<ref name=APGIII2009>{{Cite journal |last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group |year=2009 |title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=105–121 |url=http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1095-8339.2003.t01-1-00158.x/pdf | format= PDF |access-date=2013-07-06 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x |doi-access=free |hdl=10654/18083 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = See text
}}

The '''Myristicaceae''' are a [[Family (biology)|family]] of [[flowering plant]]s native to Africa, Asia, Pacific islands, and the Americas<ref>{{citation |chapter-url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=10596 |title=Flora of China online |chapter=Myristicaceae |author=Bingtao Li and Thomas K. Wilson |volume=7 |year=2008}}</ref> and has been recognized by most taxonomists. It is sometimes called the "nutmeg family", after its most famous member, ''[[Myristica fragrans]]'', the source of the spices [[nutmeg]] and mace. The best known genera are ''[[Myristica]]'' in [[Asia]] and ''[[Virola]]'' in the [[Neotropical realm|Neotropics]].

The family consists of about 21 genera with about 520 species<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=CHRISTENHUSZ|first1=MAARTEN J.M.|last2=BYNG|first2=JAMES W.|date=2016-05-20|title=The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase|journal=Phytotaxa|volume=261|issue=3|pages=201|doi=10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1|issn=1179-3163|doi-access=free}}</ref> of trees, shrubs and rarely lianas (''[[Pycnanthus (plant)|Pycnanthus]]'') found in tropical forests around the world. Most of the species are large trees that are valued in the timber industry.

[[File:Horsfieldia kingii.jpg|thumb|right|237px|Fruits of ''[[Horsfieldia kingii]]'']]
[[File:Knema globularia in Thailand.jpg|thumb|right|Fruit of ''[[Knema globularia]]'']]
[[File:Horsfieldia amygdalina seeds - Kunming Botanical Garden - DSC03231.JPG|thumb|right|237px|Seeds of ''[[Horsfieldia]] amygdalina'']]

==Description==
They are typically trees with reddish sap and distinctive pagoda-like growth (known as myristicaceous branching) in which horizontal branching only occurs at certain nodes along the main axis of the trunk, each node separated by a large gap where no branching occurs. All genera are [[Dioecy|dioecious]], except ''[[Endocomia]]'' and some ''[[Iryanthera]]''. The inner bark is usually pink to reddish or light colored then oxidizing as such. When cut, the tree trunk exudes a red or orange resin; stems and young twigs often will exude clear sap (not colored) that may smell spicy. The foliage is generally spicy-aromatic and the leaves are glossy, dark green, simple, entire, 2-ranked, undersides often whitish or tomentose, with dark brown punctations or not, usually with complex caducous hairs colored golden yellow to red. The flowers are usually small, highly reduced, fragrant, with 3-5 tepals, inner perianth whitish-green, yellow, orange, reddish-pink to rusty-brown, arranged in axillary paniculate inflorescences or unbranched wart-like structures (like ''[[Knema]]''). The female flowers are without staminodes, with stigmas often lobed. The male flowers with fused stamens arranged in a synandrium. Pollen is monosulcate, often boat-shaped.

The fruit is a leathery dehiscent capsule, with rusty indument or not,<ref name=Watson&Dallwitz>{{cite web|url=http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/myristic.htm |title=Myristicaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards) The families of flowering plants}}</ref> containing a single seed that is arillate or not; when present, the aril variously laciniate or entire. In most genera, the aril is colored red but also can be orange or white and translucent. The single seed has ruminate endosperm and is uniform in color or rarely with black blotches (''[[Compsoneura]]'').

Many species within the family exhibit highly complex phytochemistry with numerous compounds having been described from the leaves, bark, fruits, arils, and seeds of many species.

==Taxonomy==
In the [[APG IV system]] of 2016, Myristaceae are placed in the order [[Magnoliales]] in the [[magnoliids]] clade.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group|year=2016|title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG IV|journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society|volume=181|issue=1|pages=1–20|issn=0024-4074|doi=10.1111/boj.12385|doi-access=free}}</ref> The genera placed in the family are related as shown in the following cladogram:{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

{{clade|style=font-size:100%;line-height:100%
|label1=Myristicaceae
|1={{clade
|label1=Myristicoids
|1={{clade
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Compsoneura]]''
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Endocomia]]''
|2=''[[Virola]]''
}}
|3={{clade
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Bicuiba]]''
|2=''[[Haematodendron]]''
}}
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Iryanthera]]''
|2=''[[Osteophloeum]]''
}}
}}
}}
|2=''[[Gymnacranthera]]''
|3=''[[Horsfieldia]]''
|4=''[[Knema]]''
|5=''[[Scyphocephalium]]''
|6={{clade
|1=''[[Myristica]]''
|2=''[[Paramyristica]]''
}}
}}
|label2=Pycnanthoids
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Otoba]]''
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Coelocaryon]]''
|2=''[[Pycnanthus (plant)|Pycnanthus]]''
}}
}}
|label3=Mauloutchioids
|3={{clade
|1=''[[Staudtia]]''
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Cephalosphaera (plant)|Cephalosphaera]]''
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Doyleanthus]]''
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Brochoneura]]''
|2=''[[Mauloutchia]]''
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}

===List of genera===
{{As of|2023|November}}, [[Plants of the World Online]] accepted the following genera:<ref name = powo>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77126699-1 Myristiceae R.Br.] ''[[Plants of the World Online]]''. Retrieved 18 November 2023.</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
*''[[Bicuiba]]'' J.J.de Wilde
*''[[Brochoneura]]'' Warb.
*''[[Coelocaryon]]'' Warb.
*''[[Compsoneura]]'' (DC.) Warb.
*''[[Doyleanthus]]'' Sauquet
*''[[Endocomia]]'' W.J.de Wilde
*''[[Gymnacranthera]]'' Warb.
*''[[Haematodendron]]'' Capuron
*''[[Horsfieldia]]'' Willd.
*''[[Iryanthera]]'' (A.DC.) Warb.
*''[[Knema]]'' Lour.
*''[[Mauloutchia]]'' Warb.
*''[[Myristica]]'' Gronov.
*''[[Neobrochoneura]]'' {{small|Figueiredo & Gideon F.Sm.}}
*''[[Osteophloeum]]'' Warb.
*''[[Otoba]]'' (DC.) H.Karst.
*''[[Paramyristica]]'' W.J.de Wilde
*''[[Pycnanthus (plant)|Pycnanthus]]'' Warb.
*''[[Scyphocephalium]]'' Warb.
*''[[Staudtia]]'' Warb.
*''[[Virola]]'' Aubl.
{{Div col end}}

==Ecology==
[[File:SaurabhSawant MyristicaSwampForest Kathlekan IMG 2661.jpg|left|thumb|A [[Myristica swamp|''Myristica'' swamp]] forest forming part of the Kathlekan region in the [[Western Ghats]]. These unique habitats are dominated by ''[[Myristica]]'' species that bear stilt roots. Due to agricultural development, they are now threatened.]]
Myristicaceae are found in humid lowland forests, swamp forests, submontane forests, and [[cloud forest]]s at elevations up to 2100 m. Some of the anatomical characters presented by this family suggest that in the past they could live in xeric (dry) environments, but now their species are linked to tropical rainforests.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}}

The species present [[anthesis]] at night, and [[pollination]] is usually carried out by small beetles from the [[Anthicidae]] family that resemble ants and consume pollen (e.g., ''Myristica fragrans'' is probably pollinated by the beetle ''[[Formicomus braminus]]'').<ref>{{citation |url=https://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2012/hetzer_benj/reproduction%20and%20interactions.htm |title=Nutmeg: also known as ''Myristica fragrans'' |author=Ben Hetzer |year=2007}}</ref> The strong floral scent that attracts beetles emerges from the ends of the connectives of the [[stamen]]s. However, ''Myristica'' is probably pollinated by true ants, a case of [[myrmecophily]].{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

A few [[New Guinea]] ''Myristica'' species have evolved hollow stem swellings in which ants reside. This facilitates a mutualistic relationship known as [[myrmecophily]], and is similar to that of ''[[Cecropia]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=de Wilde|first=W.J.J.O.|date=1995|title=Census of Myristica (Myristicaceae) in New Guinea|journal=Blumea|volume=40|issue=2|pages=237–344}}</ref>

==Uses==
The most important products of the family by far are the [[nutmeg]] and [[mace (spice)|mace]] spices, both derived from respectively the seed and aril of ''[[Myristica fragrans]]'', a tree native to the [[Maluku Islands|Moluccas]]. A hallucinogenic snuff (containing a derivative of [[tryptamine]]) that is used by certain Amazonian tribes is obtained from the bark of ''[[Virola elongata]]'' and other closely related species. The wood of some Asian and American species has local commercial use, as is the case of ''[[Otoba parvifolia]]'' in South America.

==Toxicity==
Essential oils of Myristicaceae have [[Antifungal medication|antifungal]] action and antimicrobial activity against ''[[Streptococcus mutans]]''.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}} The dark-red [[resin]] of the tree bark in some genera, such as ''[[Virola]]'', contains several [[hallucinogenic drug|hallucinogenic]] [[alkaloid]]s. [[Myristicin]] poisoning can induce [[convulsions]], [[palpitations]], nausea, eventual [[dehydration]], and generalized body pain.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} It is also reputed to be a strong [[deliriant]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.erowid.org/plants/nutmeg/ | title = Nutmeg | work = Plants | publisher = Erowid | access-date = 2012-04-22 }}</ref> and some fatal myristicin poisonings in humans have occurred.<ref>{{Cite journal
| doi = 10.1016/S0379-0738(00)00369-8
| last1 = Stein | first1 = U.
| last2 = Greyer | first2 = H.
| last3 = Hentschel | first3 = H.
| title = Nutmeg (myristicin) poisoning--report on a fatal case and a series of cases recorded by a poison information centre
| journal = Forensic Science International
| volume = 118
| issue = 1
| pages = 87–90
| year = 2001
| pmid = 11343860
}}</ref>

==Fossil record==
A fossil seed of †''Myristicacarpum chandlerae'' from the early [[Eocene]] [[London Clay]] flora of southern [[England]] is the earliest record of Myristicaceae.<ref>{{citation |title=A Seed Related to Myristicaceae in the Early Eocene of Southern England |author1=Doyle, James A. |author2=Manchester, Steven R. |author3=Sauquet, Hervé |journal=Systematic Botany |volume=33 |issue=4 |year=2008 |pages=636–646 |jstor=40211933 |doi=10.1600/036364408786500217|s2cid=86195436 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=900&taxon_id=10596 e-floras]
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Wikispecies-inline}}

{{Angiosperm families}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q161214}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Myristicaceae| ]]
[[Category:Magnoliid families]]
[[Category:Dioecious plants]]

Myristicaceae - Revision history

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