Status of the subspecies of Myristica beddomei (Myristicaceae), endemic to the Western Ghats, India

Abstract

Examination of plants from type locality and herbarium specimens revealed that the diagnostic characteristics are consistent among plants of Myristica beddomei subsp. beddomei and Myristica beddomei subsp. ustulata. Therefore, we propose synonymisation of M. beddomei subsp. ustulata with M. beddomei. However, M. beddomei subsp. spherocarpa was distinct from nominate subspecies in many morphological, anatomical and chemical attributes, and we therefore propose its elevation to species status with a new name, M. pushpangadaniana.