Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which species is the source of nutmeg and mace?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Magnoliales
Magnolia (Magnolia fraseri).
Both nutmeg and mace are derived from the tropical evergreen tree Myristica fragrans, which belongs to the family Myristicaceae within the order Magnoliales.12
The two spices come from different parts of the tree's fruit:
* Nutmeg is the dried seed of the fruit.1
* Mace is the dried, crimson-colored arilāa fleshy coveringāthat surrounds the seed.31
Native to the Moluccas, or Spice Islands, of Indonesia, the tree produces a fruit similar in appearance to an apricot. When the fruit matures and splits open, the mace is removed and dried, while the inner seed is processed to become the nutmeg spice.31