California nutmeg

California nutmeg
a tall, pungently aromatic California evergreen tree, Torreya californica, of the yew family, having a fissured, gray-brown bark and small, purple-streaked, green fruit.
[1905-10, Amer.]

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plant
also called  stinking nutmeg,  or  California torreya 

      (Torreya californica), an ornamental evergreen tree of the yew family (Taxaceae), found naturally only in California. Growing to a height of 24 m (about 79 feet) or more, the tree bears spreading, slightly drooping branches. Although pyramidal in shape when young, it may be round-topped in old age. The fissured bark is grayish brown in colour, with orange streaks showing through. The dark-green rigid leaves are nearly flat and are usually about 4 to 8 cm (11/2 to 3 inches) long and 3 mm (about 1/8 inch) broad, tapering to a spiny point. Leaves, branches, and wood have a pungent, aromatic scent. The aril, or seed covering, is oval, 2 to 3 cm (4/5 to 11/5 inches) long, and light green, usually with purple streaks.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • California nutmeg — Nutmeg Nut meg, n. [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See {Nut}, and {Musk}.] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree ({Myristica fragrans}), a native… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • California-nutmeg — kaliforninė skėtva statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Lauramedinių dekoratyvinis, medieninis, vaistinis augalas (Umbellularia californica), paplitęs Šiaurės Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Umbellularia californica angl. California bay; California …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • California nutmeg — noun California evergreen having a fruit resembling a nutmeg but with a strong turpentine flavor • Syn: ↑nutmeg yew, ↑Torreya californica • Hypernyms: ↑yew • Member Holonyms: ↑Torreya, ↑genus Torreya * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • Nutmeg — Nut meg, n. [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See {Nut}, and {Musk}.] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree ({Myristica fragrans}), a native of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nutmeg bird — Nutmeg Nut meg, n. [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See {Nut}, and {Musk}.] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree ({Myristica fragrans}), a native… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nutmeg butter — Nutmeg Nut meg, n. [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See {Nut}, and {Musk}.] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree ({Myristica fragrans}), a native… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nutmeg flower — Nutmeg Nut meg, n. [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See {Nut}, and {Musk}.] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree ({Myristica fragrans}), a native… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nutmeg liver — Nutmeg Nut meg, n. [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See {Nut}, and {Musk}.] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree ({Myristica fragrans}), a native… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nutmeg melon — Nutmeg Nut meg, n. [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See {Nut}, and {Musk}.] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree ({Myristica fragrans}), a native… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nutmeg pigeon — Nutmeg Nut meg, n. [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See {Nut}, and {Musk}.] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree ({Myristica fragrans}), a native… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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