Spreading aromatic evergreentree usually growing to around 5 to 13 metres high,occasionally 20 metres. The bark contains watery pink or red sap. The pointed dark green leaves (5 to 15 cm× 2 to 7 cm) are arranged alternately along thebranches and are borne on leaf stems about 1 cm long. Upper leaf surfaces are shiny. Flowers are usually single sexed; occasionally male and female flowers are found on the same tree. Female flowers arise in groups of 1 to 3; males in groups of 1 to 10. Flowers are pale yellow, waxy, fleshy and bell-shaped. Male flowers are 5 to 7 mm long; female flowers are up to 1 cm long. The fruits are fleshy, drooping, yellow,smooth, 6 to 9 cm long with a longitudinal ridge. When ripe, the succulent yellow fruit coat splits into 2 valves revealing a purplish-brown, shiny seed (nutmeg) surrounded by a red aril (mace). Seeds(nutmegs) are broadly ovoid (2 to 3 cm long), firm, fleshy, whitish and transversed by red-brown veins. When fresh, the aril (mace) is bright scarlet becoming more horny, brittle and a yellowish-brown colour when dried.
*Description source: Not verified.