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Useful Tropical Plants

Myristica succedanea

Blume

Myristicaceae

+ Synonyms

Myristica lakilaki Murata & Nitta

Myristica radja Miq.

Myristica schefferi Warb.

Myristica speciosa Warb.

Common Name:

Myristica succedanea
Drawings of the plant
Photograph by: The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 23; Singapore, 1968
Creative Commons License
Myristica succedanea Myristica succedanea

General Information

Myristica succedanea is an evergreen tree with a pyramidal crown; it can grow 8 - 20 metres tall. The tree has a very straight, clear bole, which can be up to 15 metres long, usually with stilt roots[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
451
Title
Flora Malesiana Series 1
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://www.archive.org
Publisher
Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].
The tree yields a seed and aril similar, but inferior, to the genuine nutmeg and mace. It has been cultivated as a spice in the past, probably mainly for local use[
451
Title
Flora Malesiana Series 1
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://www.archive.org
Publisher
Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
,
1034
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 23
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanic Gardens Park and Recreation Department; Singapore
Year
1968
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal, this one contains a revision of the genus Myristica.
].
The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

451
Title
Flora Malesiana Series 1
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://www.archive.org
Publisher
Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet

Range

Southeast Asia - Indonesia in the Moluccas.

Habitat

Lowland and montane forest; forest with little undergrowth on level places on ridge; deep clayey soil, bedrock grey schists; steep slopes or ravines; at elevations from sea level to 1,100 metres[
451
Title
Flora Malesiana Series 1
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://www.archive.org
Publisher
Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].

Properties

Conservation StatusNear Threatened
Edibility Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height15.00 m
PollinatorsBees, Insects
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details


Members of this genus are mainly understorey and canopy trees of primary woodland. They need the shade of woodland, especially when young, though can often tolerate more open positions as they grow larger. They usually succeed on a range of soil types. Most species have a superficial root system and are best grown in positions sheltered from strong winds[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Flowers are produced at the end of the branches[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.
The nuts are quite aromatic and the tree was formerly cultivated to a small extent by the inhabitants of the Northern Moluccas, probably mostly for their own use. They made little profit for the trees did not produce any great quantity of fruit and the nuts are smaller than those of the genuine nutmeg (Myristica fragrans). The Dutch political administrators
ordered all the trees to be cut down so as to keep the true nutmeg pure. Even if Myristica fragrans and succedanea
did hybridize spontaneously in nature, the chance that succedanea would threaten the trade in the commercial product must have been remote. Such vandalism in exterminating an interesting and useful species is to be deplored,
but fortunately H. J. Lam in 1926 found wild material of this species on Gunong Mala-Mala in Tidore. Which goes to show that their diabolical acts did not altogether succeed[
1034
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 23
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanic Gardens Park and Recreation Department; Singapore
Year
1968
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal, this one contains a revision of the genus Myristica.
].

Edible Uses

The seeds and arils are aromatic. Although somewhat smaller, they have been used as a spice in a similar manner to nutmeg and mace[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
1034
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 23
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanic Gardens Park and Recreation Department; Singapore
Year
1968
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal, this one contains a revision of the genus Myristica.
]. The small seeds have a very pleasant smell and are used in the same way as genuine nutmeg[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The red sap (kino), present in the bark of most species in this genus, can be used as a dye that gives a permanent brown stain[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

The tree has been tried as a rootstock for nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

We have no information on the wood for this species, but the following is the general information for the wood of trees in this genus:-
The heartwood can be dark reddish brown to light yellow-brown or brown with occasional pink tinge and dark red-purple stripes; it is not clearly differentiated from the paler sapwood. A blood red core is found in some species. The grain is straight; the texture is rather fine to slightly coarse and even; somewhat lustrous; without characteristic odour or taste. Growth rings are distinct, demarcated by layers of terminal parenchyma. The wood is mostly soft or moderately hard and moderately heavy; it is not durable, but is easily treated with preservatives. The wood dries rather slowly but with little degrade, though thin stock tends to warp. It is easy to work with, but sometimes easily splitting; planning is easy, with a smooth to moderately smooth finish; drilling and turning are easy with a smooth finish; nailing properties are generally good with some tendency to splitting. A light hardwood, it is mainly used for light construction work, partitioning, flooring, wall-panelling, moulding and other types of interior finishing, and for making tool-handles, woodcrafts, match boxes and splints, packing cases, crates, and household utensils. It is also suitable for manifacturing plywood, rotary veneer and wrapping and writing papers[
316
Title
Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
Publication
 
Author
Chudnoff. Martin.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin.
Year
1984
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
,
899
Title
Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vols 1 - 6
Publication
 
Author
Soepadmo E.; Saw L.G.; Chung R.C.K. (Editors)
Publisher
Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur.
Year
2002
ISBN
983-2181-27-5
Description
A flora of the woody plants of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, often giving details of plant uses.
].

Propagation

Seed - dries out easily, loses its viability rapidly, and cannot be stored. It is best sown in a shaded position in a nursery seedbed - germination is usually fairly quick with the seed of most species sprouting within 2 - 17 weeks[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
1034
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 23
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanic Gardens Park and Recreation Department; Singapore
Year
1968
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal, this one contains a revision of the genus Myristica.
]. Grow the young plants on in a shady position, planting them out in their permanent positions when large enough.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Myristica+succedanea>

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