in taxon spice or flavor-producing plant nutmeg plant mace nutmeg MANSFELD:12036 PLANTS:MYFR3 The nutmeg tree is any of several species of trees in genus *Myristica*. The most important commercial species is *Myristica fragrans*, an evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas (or Spice Islands) of Indonesia. The nutmeg tree is important for two spices derived from the fruit: nutmeg and mace. Nutmeg is the actual seed of the tree, while mace is the dried "lacy"reddish covering or aril of the seed. myristica fragrans Myristica fragrans requires discussion