Which tree species is the main source of the spice nutmeg?

The tree species that is the main source of the spice nutmeg is Myristica fragrans, the fragrant or true nutmeg tree.

Myristica fragrans is an evergreen tree native to Indonesia’s Maluku, or Spice, Islands. Its fruit splits open when mature, revealing a dark seed surrounded by a bright red, lacy covering called an aril. The dried seed is grated or ground to make nutmeg, while the aril is processed separately into the related spice mace.

Nutmeg’s history is closely tied to the global spice trade. The Banda Islands were once the principal source of nutmeg and mace, and traders guarded their location carefully. European attempts to control the islands helped drive some of the earliest colonial competition in Southeast Asia.

The question can cause confusion because several Myristica species may produce nutmeg-like products, and the word “nutmeg” can mean either the whole seed or the powdered spice. Myristica fragrans is the standard commercial species and the canonical answer. It is also valued for essential oil, but excessive consumption of nutmeg can be toxic.