Myristicaceae

Links to Genus Directory of Images: Ardisia

Genera : 15

Species: 300

Distribution: Widespread in the lowland tropics - especially Amazonia and New Guinea.

Economic Uses: Myristica is the source of nutmeg, Virola is a timberwood and also the source of an indigenous hallucinogenic snuff throughout Amazonia.

Defining Features of Interest: Ethereal oil cells and calcium oxalate crystals (cystoliths) common in the parenchyma tissue.

Fossil Evidence: No known record

Defining Morphology

Floral Features : Unisexual and often dioecious, small . Inflorescence is axillary or terminal cymes or racemes. Hypogynous. Ca a cup, Co lacking. A with filaments united in a column and anther opening in one longitudinal slit.

Fruit and Seed Features : A fleshy berry dehiscing along two sutures. Seed with an aril and endosperm. Placentation basal.

Vegetative Features : Habit is as trees, rarely as shrubs. Leaves are simple, entire, alt. Stipules are lacking.