Pollination of Myristica and other nutmegs in natural populations

Abstract

Field studies of several species of Myristica (Myristicaceae) have produced a more detailed understanding of the pollination and reproduction of nutmeg, which had long been wanting. Nutmegs are dioecious tropical forest trees within the order Magnoliales. Nutmegs conform to the general pattern of dioecious tropical trees; they have small, inconspicuous flowers with a pollen reward system, and interact with a guild of small, generalist insects, predominately beetles, thrips and flies. Pollen is the only obvious reward, so pollination operates by deception and foraging errors. Fluctuations in floral displays may encourage foraging errors, and beetles have been found to be sensitive and responsive to such changes in floral displays. Natural populations of nutmegs are generally male-biased, although irregular flowering can shift sex ratios from season to season. Intersexual differences in microhabitat preference were found in some, but not all nutmeg species studied. Compared to their importance and prevalence in tropical forests, the nutmeg family remains both under-studied and difficult to study. Future work should focus on aspects of nutmeg reproduction such as pollen flow and fruiting success (or seed set) that may offer conservation insights. © Manju V. Sharma and Joseph E. Armstrong.