Monodora myristica

This is the latin name given within the framework of colonial institutions under which most scientific articles are published.

NAMES

Calabash nutmeg / African nutmeg / Jamaican nutmeg / false nutmeg / African orchid nutmeg / Awiriwa / Airama / Apon / Ehuri / Wedeaba / Igbo / Iwo / Pèbè / Anango Tiga / Maraba Tiga / Efouan / Ehu / Ehuru / Ariwo / Erhe / Kposa / ...

Monodora myristica

Calabash nutmeg, flower

Calabash nutmeg, drawing

Calabash nutmeg, fruit

Calabash nutmeg, tree

Protologue

Monog. Anonac. 80 (1817).

This means that the latin name Monodora myristica was given by the French botanist Michel Félix in 1817 his publication Monographie de la famille des Anonacées.

Botanical Notes

The Monodora myristica tree grows in the tropical parts of West and Central Africa. It can get up to 35-40 meters high.and 1 meter large. The tree is also used as an ornamental tree for its striking beauty.

Culinary Uses

The Calabash nutmeg has a pungent taste and is used to season meat, fish and sweet dishes.

It is usually roeasted to enhance its flavour and used in preparations like isi ewu, goat meat pepper soup, ofe nsala or ofe kposa, , West African rice pudding, beef with calabash nutmegs, West African spiced fish, nkwobi, abacha and many more

Medicinal & Socio-Cultural Uses

The Calabash nutmeg is used as a stimulant as it is an aphrodisiac. It is also used against aches like headache or toothache. In southern Nigeria, herbalists and traditional medical practitioners from the Ijebu people integrate the Calabash nutmeg into their treatment of various types of cancer.

Further information

The Calabash nutmeg was brought to the Carribean Islands through people who were enslaved and brought there through slave trade. This is why the spice is also named Jamaican nutmeg.

The Bogor Botanical Gardens introduced the plant to Indonesia.

Library

1 / Encyclopedia of Spices

Ravindran, P. N. 2016. The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Spices. Vol. Volume 1. Boston, MA: CABI.

2 / Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer among the ijebus of southwestern Nigeria

Segun, Peter A., Omonike O. Ogbole, and Edith O. Ajaiyeoba. 2018. “Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Cancer among the Ijebus of Southwestern Nigeria.” Journal of Herbal Medicine 14 (December): 68–75.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2018.04.002

3 / Item Title

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