Myristica fragrans

9.1

A tropical evergreen tree with aromatic seeds used to make nutmeg and mace

noun
/mɪˈrɪstɪkə ˈfræɡrænz/

Specialized

: Myristica fragrans

The aromatic seeds of Myristica fragrans are ground to produce nutmeg, a popular spice.

Examples

Myristica fragrans is native to the Banda Islands but is now cultivated throughout the tropics.
The Myristica fragrans tree thrives in humid tropical climates.
Many botanists study Myristica fragrans for its economic and culinary importance.
Many chefs use Myristica fragrans to enhance their dishes.
The aromatic seeds of Myristica fragrans are ground to produce nutmeg, a popular spice.
Myristica fragrans is native to the Banda Islands but is now cultivated throughout the tropics.
Many botanists study Myristica fragrans for its economic and culinary importance.

Synonyms

nutmeg tree

vsMyristica fragrans

5.5

A tropical evergreen tree that produces the spices nutmeg and mace

is the scientific Latin name used in formal botanical contexts

Surface Forms

Myristica fragrans singular

Myristica fragranses plural

Morphology

Myristica + fragrans

This is a Latin binomial (scientific species) name rather than a normal compositional English phrase; its meaning (a particular tree species that yields nutmeg and mace) is not derivable by combining ordinary English words. Even though 'fragrans' resembles English 'fragrant', taxonomic names function as proper nouns and B1 learners who know the listed constituents would not reliably infer the species-level meaning or the culinary-spice association.

Etymology

The name Myristica fragrans comes from old words that point to the tree's smell: Myristica was an old name for the nutmeg tree and fragrans means 'fragrant', so the name helps you remember that this tree produces the aromatic seeds we call nutmeg and mace.