Myristica beddomei King (1891: 291)

Govind, Murugan Govindakurup & Dan, Mathew, 2022, Status of the subspecies of Myristica beddomei (Myristicaceae), endemic to the Western Ghats, India, Phytotaxa 541 (3), pp. 261-269 : 261-262

Myristica beddomei King (1891: 291) . ( Fig. 1 )

Type :— INDIA. Karnataka, 20 Nov 1882, Talbot s.n. (holotype: K000880079, online image K!) .

Heterotypic synonym: Myristica beddomei subsp. ustulata de Wilde ( Fig. 1 ). Type:— INDIA. Tamil Nadu: Anamalais , 29 Oct 1974, Kostermans 25825 (holotype: L, online image!; isotypes: K, BM, online images!) .

Evergreen, dioecious trees, 20–35 m tall, branching usually whorled, main trunk 90–120cm in diameter; bark rough, brown; exudate orange-red, viscous. Leaves alternate, petiolate; petiole 3.5–4.2 cm long, deeply grooved, glabrous; lamina 15–20 × 6–10 cm, broadly lanceolate, apex acute to acuminate, margin undulate, base rounded, adaxially dark green, gland-dotted, abaxially glaucous, glabrous; midvein prominent, lateral veins adaxially prominent, 16-20 paired. Male inflorescence 3–4-flowered, axillary umbel; peduncle erect, 2 cm long, cylindrical, scurfy tomentose; flowers caducous, urceolate, 3.1–4.3 × 2.3–3.0 mm, brownish yellow, pedicellate; pedicel 7–10 mm long, pubescent; bracteole 2.1–3.0 × 2.2–3.1 mm, ovate, acute at apex, appressed to the base of male flower, dorsally convex, brownish yellow, densely pubescent outside, persistent; perianth trilobed, equal, acute, curved outward, brownish yellow, densely pubescent outside; staminal column 3–5 mm long, cylindrical, pilose up to anthers from base; anthers 9–10. Female inflorescence 2–3-flowered, axillary umbel; peduncle erect, 3 mm long, stout, cylindrical, puberulous; flowers urceolate, 4.2–6.1 × 4.0–5.0 mm, yellow, persistent, pedicellate; pedicel up to 5 mm long, pubescent; perianth trilobed, equal, acute, re-curved outward, scabrid outside; stigma short, bilobed; ovary ovate, 2–3 mm, densely tomentose. Fruits usually solitary, rarely in pairs, dehiscent, 4.0–6.0 × 3.5–4.0 cm, ovoid to subovoid, brown, apex obtuse, base round, longitudinal suture on both sides, scurfy pubescent; rind 7–10 mm thick, brown; seed 3.0–4.5 × 2.5–4.0 cm, oblong, black; arillate, aril completely covering seed, yellow turning orange-red, lacerate.

Distribution:— Endemic to the southern Western Ghats at 700–1100 m.

Phenology:— Flowering September–November and fruiting July–August.

Notes:— Based on extensive field studies and detailed morphological studies on live specimens from type localities, it was clear that the key characters used by De Wilde to delimit M. beddomei subsp. ustulata from M. beddomei subsp. beddomei viz. 3–4 mm thick dry pericarp; 0.3–0.5 mm long, blackish brown hairs on male flowers and persistent bracteole could not be demonstrated. De Wilde did not describe female flowers of M. beddomei subsp. ustulata in the protologue. In this study, features of the female flowers of M. beddomei subsp. beddomei and M. beddomei subsp. ustulata were identical.

Other specimens examined:— INDIA. Kudermukh , Aug 2018, Govind 93694 (TBGT); Tamil Nadu, Courtallum hills, 1873, Beddome s.n. (K, K000880077, online image); Thirunelveli, Kostermans s.n. (K000880916, online image K);Thirunelveli, Beddome s.n. (BM000950851, online image BM); Kothayar, KMTR,Anamali Hills, Feb 2019, Govind 93647 (TBGT); Malakkapara-Valpaarai, Feb 2018, Govind 91042 (TBGT); Kerala, Kurichiyarmala, Wayanadu, Jan 2019, Govind 93644 (TBGT); Pooncholamala, Wayanadu, March 2019, Govind 93690 (TBGT); Kothayar, KMTR, Anamali hills, Mar 2019, Govind 91044 (TBGT); Thirunelveli, Mar 2019, Govind & Anto 91045 (TBGT) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Myristica beddomei subsp. beddomei A. Twig with leaves and fruit. B. Male inflorescence. C. Female inflorescence. D. Male flower. E. Androecium, exposed. F. Female flower. G. Gynoecium exposed. H. Fruits. I. Arillate seed. J. Bark exudate.