Page 18. Plate IV.
Volume II.

A detailed botanical copperplate engraving of a nutmeg plant (Myristica fragrans). The central focus is a large branch with several smaller offshoots, bearing many elliptical, pointed leaves with visible venation. Small, bell-shaped flowers hang from the leaf axils. Various parts of the fruit and seed are depicted and labeled with letters:

A: Two whole, rounded nutmeg fruits hanging from a branch on the lower right.
B: A fruit on the lower left that has split open (dehisced) to reveal the internal seed surrounded by its fleshy aril, known as mace.
C: A single nutmeg seed, called the nut, shown vertically, displaying its characteristic surface ridges.
D: A nutmeg seed shown horizontally.
E: A smaller, oval fruit or seed located near the bottom center.
F: An open fruit on the right showing the seed and mace inside.
G: Two depictions of nutmeg seeds on the upper left; one shows the exterior texture, and the other appears to show a cross-section of the seed's internal structure.
H: Two small, elongated seeds or buds at the top left.
The engraving uses fine line work and cross-hatching to create depth and texture.

H H

C D

AMBOINA HERBAL Book II. Chapter VI.

EXPLANATION

Of the Fourth Plate,

Showing a branch of the Nutmeg original: Nucis Myristicae or Moschatae tree, called Pala by the inhabitants.
A. The fruit in its perfect state.
B. The Nutmeg at its proper size and maturity, as it bursts open, revealing the red Mace original: Macis in Latin, or Foely in Dutch. This is the lacy, reddish-orange covering that wraps around the nutmeg seed..
C. The Nut removed and still wrapped in the Mace.
D. The Nut enclosed within its hard shell.
E. The Nut alone, removed from the shell.
F. The so-called Thieves' Nut, or Pala Pentsjoeri original: Pala Pentsjoeri. In the Malay language, pencuri means thief. These are typically small, underdeveloped, or aborted fruits..
G. Pala Bacambar, or the Twin Nut original: Pala Bacambar. This refers to a rare occurrence where two seeds develop inside a single fruit..
H. Pala Radja, or the Royal Nut original: Pala Radja. A term for particularly large or superior quality nutmegs..

OBSERVATION.

This Nut-bearing tree was first named by Caspar Bauhin in his Table of Plants original: Pinax, where it is called the Round-fruited Nutmeg. It is shown under this name by Plukenet in The Treasury of Botany original: Almagestum page 265 and Botanical Illustrations original: Phytographia Plate 209 Figure 1, as well as by Breynius in the second edition of his Preliminary Botanical Work original: Prodromus page 88. It is called the Female Aromatic Nut by Jean Bauhin in part 1, page 265, and by Willem Piso in Aromatic Matters page 173. It is also the Nutmeg of Mattioli, regarding which see Valentyn’s Reformed History of Simples, book 2, Section V, chapter VI, page 199 and following, and the letters in the same volume, number XXV, page 452. See also John Ray’s History of Plants, volume 3, appendix page 58, and Pomet’s General History of Drugs, chapter XII, page 201, who also in chapter X, page 199, shows and describes Cloves original: Caryophyllis. Other references include Worm in his Museum page 164 and 210, and Clusius in his...