Myristica ceylanica
The Cagayan nutmeg is closely related to the well-known spice plant nutmeg. The Tao people on Orchid Island chew the fruits of the Cagayan nutmeg and extract their juice as a natural dye fixative for traditional textiles. They spray the juice onto black hemp rope dyed with bituminous coal and then rub it by hand to ensure the color is evenly distributed and to prevent the dye from dissolving and fading. Additionally, during the flying fish season, if someone violates taboos and causes rough seas, people may require them to spit out the oil from the seeds of this plant in the sea, praying for calm waters. Thus, this plant plays a unique and deeply meaningful role in Tao culture.
The Cagayan nutmeg is only found in the Philippines and Taiwan. In Taiwan, it is mainly distributed in broadleaved forests at an altitude of about 50 to 300 meters in the southern and eastern parts of the island. It is one of the representative tree species of tropical coastal forests, and its wild population is scarce. The tree has a conical or cylindrical shape, with dense, lush foliage. Its fruits, featuring bright red arils, have a unique and beautiful appearance, enhancing its ornamental value. It is suitable for use as a street tree or landscape tree and is widely cultivated across Taiwan. In our museum, it is planted along the path in the Orchid Island Area of the Botanical Garden, with its dark, straight trunk making it easily recognizable. During the fruiting period, it is common to see fruits and seeds that have been bitten by squirrels and fallen to the ground. Some of these seeds can still germinate, so small seedlings of the Cagayan nutmeg can sometimes be seen around the large trees. Additionally, it is also cultivated in the herb garden of the Human Cultures Hall of the museum for display as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, serving as an alternative to nutmeg as a medicinal ingredient.