Pala (Myristica fragrans)

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Pala (Myristica fragrans) is a tree plant originating not from Aceh. Due to its high value as spices, fruit and nutmeg has become an important commodity trade since Roman times. Pala is mentioned in the encyclopedia of "The Old Man". Since the era of European exploration of nutmeg is widespread in other tropical regions such as Mauritius and Caribbean (Grenada). The term nutmeg is also used for traded nutmeg. This plant has two homes (dioecious) so known male tree and female tree. The leaves are elliptical in shape.

The fruit is oval-shaped like a lemon, yellow, fleshy and distinctively flavored because it contains essential oils in the flesh. When ripe, the skin and flesh open and the seeds will look wrapped in a red mace. One fruit produces one brown seed. Nutmeg seed harvested seeds (arillus), and flesh. In trade, the nutmeg salut is called the mace, or in English called mace, in pharmaceutical terms called myristicae arillus or macis). The flesh of a nutmeg is called myristicae fructus cortex. The first harvest is 7 to 9 years after the tree is planted and reaches maximum production capability after 25 years.

Growth can reach 20m and age can reach hundreds of years. Before marketed, the seeds are dried in the sun until separated from the fulinya. This drying takes six to eight weeks.

The inside of the seed will shrink in this process and will be heard when the beans are shaken. The seed shell will break and the inside of the seed is sold as nutmeg. The nutmeg contains 7-14% essential oil. Powdered nutmeg is used as flavoring for bread or cakes, puddings, sauces, vegetables, and refreshing drinks (such as eggnog). The oil is also used as a mixture of perfume or soap.

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The photos are taken by samsung s4 Loceted at Saweuk, Kutamakmur, Acut.