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Knema furfuracea (Hook.f. & Thomson) Warb.

Family Name:	Myristicaceae
Synonyms:	Myristica furfuracea Hook.f. & Thomson
Common Name:	Wild Nutmeg, Pala Hutan, Penarahan

Knema furfuracea or Wild Nutmeg is a tree that grows up to 25 m tall. It is a native tree with young twigs which start off light brown, covered in dense hair-like scales which soon rub off. Fresh leaves are white in colour, while mature leaves are dark green above, dull below. They are oblong to lanceolate, with a pointed tip and square to heart-shaped base. Flowers buds are 3- 4 lobed, either yellow, red or pink coloured produced on the axils of the foliage. Fruit is brown to apricot coloured, oval to almost round covered in rust-brown hairs.

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Plant Shape	Pyramidal
Maximum Height	25 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Malaya, Sumatra, Thailand & Singapore
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree that grows up to 25 m tall with a pyramidal crown and greyish brown flaky bark. Young twigs start off light brown covered in dense hair-like scales that are soon rubbed off, turning blackish.
Foliage	Its alternate and stalked leaves are leathery, oblong to lanceolate in shape measuring 10 - 50 cm by 3 - 21 cm, foliage widest at the middle. Leaves are dark green above, dull green below with a golden brown midrib raised on both sides. Each leaf has a pointed tip with square (truncate) to heart-shaped (cordate) base.
Flowers	The flowers are dioecious, producing female and male inflorescence on separate individuals. Each stalkless cluster is axillary, bears between 3 - 30 male flowers or up to 20 female flowers. Flower buds are yellow, pink, red or deep red inside with 3 to 4 lobes.

Fruit	Its fruit is oval to almost round in shape, covered in rust-brown hairs. Each cluster contains up to 4 reddish brown to apricot coloured fruits measuring between 2.5 - 3.5 cm by 2 - 2.8 cm. Each fruit contains 1 seed enclosed in a bright red, fleshy covering (aril).
Habitat	Occurs in primary and degraded rainforest, on hillsides and ridges, over granite, limestones, on clayey and black soil.
Etymology	Its species epithet 'furfuracea' derived from the latin name furfuraceus - like bran, in reference to the persistent, short scales found on the leaves.

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Slow

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Glossy / Shiny

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	White, Yellow / Golden
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate, Acute
Foliar Base	Cordate, Truncate / Square

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden, Pink, Red

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary
Flower Symmetry	Radial

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden
Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Velvety / Furry / Tomentose
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit

Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule
Seed Quantity Per Fruit	Few (1-5)

References

References	Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (continuously updated). Plants of the World Online \| Kew Science. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:585857-1. Accessed 05 July 2022. de Wilde, W.J.J.O (2000). Myristicaceae. Flora Malesiana - Series 1, Seed Plants, Vol. 14, pp. 258-259.

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Master ID	34234
Species ID	8647
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.