Description
Nutmeg, (Myristica fragrans), tropical evergreen tree (family Myristicaceae) and the spice made of its seed. The tree is native to the Moluccas, or Spice Islands, of Indonesia and is principally cultivated there and in the West Indies. As the fruit matures, the outer fleshy covering (which is candied or pickled as snacks in Malaysia) bursts to reveal the seed. The seed is covered with red membranes called an aril, which is the mace portion of the nutmeg. The seed is then dried for up to 2 months until the inner nut rattles inside the shell. The shell is then removed to reveal the valuable egg-shaped edible nutmeg. (Second-rate nuts are pressed for the oil, which is used in perfumes and in the food industry.)
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