# Nutmeg (*Myristica fragrans*)

Nutmeg is a special spice that comes from the seeds of a tropical evergreen tree. It has a warm, sweet flavor and is used in cooking and baking to make dishes taste delicious.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Also known as:** Myristica, Nutmeg Seed

![Nutmeg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Myristica_fragrans_at_Elmina_West_in_Seksyen_U15%252C_Shah_Alam_20231126_100924.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Wiki Farazi, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Myristica_fragrans_at_Elmina_West_in_Seksyen_U15%252C_Shah_Alam_20231126_100924.jpg)

## Appearance

The Nutmeg is a medium-sized evergreen tree with dense, dark green, glossy leaves. It produces small, pale yellow bell-shaped flowers and distinctive yellow, apricot-like fruit that splits open to reveal a single seed covered by a lacy red aril.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Magnoliales
- **Family:** Myristicaceae
- **Genus:** Myristica

## Interesting facts

- A single nutmeg tree can live and produce fruit for over 100 years!
- Eating too much nutmeg can make you feel dizzy and even hallucinate!
- Nutmeg was once used to help preserve meat before refrigerators existed.
- The famous 'spice trade' was a huge global competition for nutmeg and other spices!

## Special abilities

- **Spice Duo:** Nutmeg's fruit yields two distinct spices, nutmeg and mace, allowing it to offer double the flavor from one source.
- **Seed Protector:** Nutmeg protects its valuable seed with a hard shell and a colorful, fleshy fruit, ensuring its precious cargo is safe.
- **Climate Resilience:** Nutmeg trees thrive in hot, humid tropical climates, allowing them to produce fruit year-round in ideal conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 500-2000 cm
- **Spread:** 300-800 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Year-round (tropical)
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Parasitizes:** Black Pod Disease Fungus (*Phytophthora palmivora*) — causes destructive rot in nutmeg fruits and stems.
- **Depends on:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — cultivates and harvests nutmeg for culinary and medicinal uses.
- **Parasitizes:** Citrus Mealybug (*Planococcus citri*) — feeds on plant sap, weakening nutmeg trees.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents.
- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient): Ancient refers to organisms, objects, or geological formations that have existed for an extremely long period.
- [Artifact](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/artifact): An artifact is an object made or modified by human culture, typically of historical or archaeological interest.
- [Natural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/natural): Natural refers to organisms, materials, or phenomena existing or produced by nature, not artificially created.

## Collections

- [Spices](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/spices)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Nutmeg is safe to use in cooking but should not be eaten in large amounts as it can cause side effects.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Nutmeg?

Compare leaf shape and arrangement, stem structure, flowers and growth habit. Some poisonous plants look a lot like kitchen herbs, so looks alone never prove a plant is safe to eat. Herb Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Nutmeg?

500-2000 cm

### How wide does Nutmeg spread?

300-800 cm

### How big are the flowers on Nutmeg?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Nutmeg bloom?

Year-round (tropical)

### Is Nutmeg edible?

Yes

### Is Nutmeg toxic?

Moderate

### What is Nutmeg's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Nutmeg: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nutmeg)