Systematic Classificaton:
Systematic Classification:
Division : Angiospermae
Class : Dicotyledons
Family : Myristicaceae
Genus : MyristicaCommon Name:
Kattujathy, Ponnampayin, Malabar Nutmeg
General Information:
Trees grow up to 25 m tall. Bark greenish-black, smooth; blaze reddish. Branches horizontal; branchlets sub-terete, glabrous. Sap red from cut end of bark, profuse. Leaves simple, alternate, distichous; petiole 1.0-1.5 cm long, canaliculate above, glabrous; lamina 9.5-22 x 3.7-10 cm, elliptic or elliptic-oblong, apex acute or subacute, base acute or attenuate, margin entire, glossy above, glabrous and glaucous beneath, coriaceous; midrib raised above; secondary nerves 8-14 pairs, slender, slightly impressed above; tertiary nerves broadly reticulate or obscure. Flowers unisexual, urceolate, white; male flowers numerous, smaller than female flowers, in axillary cymes; female flowers in umbels, 5-6 flowered. Capsule 5-7.5 x 1.8-3.5, oblong, pubescent; seed one, oblong; aril covering the seed yellow and laciniate.
Economic Importance:
- It is traditionally used as anticancer, anti- Inflammatory, anti-Oxidant, Sedative hypnotics, Antimicrobial, Antifertility, Hepatoprotective and cytotoxicity.