Myristica fragrans, commonly known as the nutmeg tree, is an evergreen species indigenous to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia.

[3] Valued for centuries in global spice trade, M. fragrans is now widely cultivated throughout tropical regions, including parts of Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia), South Asia (Kerala in India, Sri Lanka), East Asia (Guangdong and Yunnan in China, Taiwan), the Caribbean (notably Grenada), and South America.

When ripe the husk splits into two halves along a ridge running the length of the fruit.

[3][5] Myristica fragrans was given a binomial name by the Dutch botanist Maartyn Houttuyn in 1774.

[8] Seeds from the plant are used to make essential oils while other parts such as arils, bark, flowers and leaves are used for fragrance in soaps and perfumes.