Significance of carpology in the taxonomy of the family Myristicaceae from the Western Ghats, India

Abstract

The fruit, aril, and seed morphology of all the Myristicaceae members of the Western Ghats were systematically examined and discussed. The morphological analyses unveiled distinctive carpological features among both endemic and exotic species. Consequently, fruit characteristics play a significant role in the delineation, identification, and classification of taxa within the Western Ghats. A key developed based on aril characteristics will adequately facilitate the identification of Myristicaceae species in the Western Ghats.