BOTANICAL NAME:-	MYNISTICA FRAGRANS	COUNTRY:-	SRILANKA
HARVESTING PERIOD:-	MAY TO AUGUST
USES:-	THE NUTMEG TREE IS IMPORTANT FOR TWO SPICES DERIVED FROM ITS FRUIT, NUTMEG AND MACE. NUTMEG IS THE SEED OF THE TREE AND IT GIVES OFF A GENTLE FRAGRANCE OF MINT AND BERGAMOT. IN COOKING, NUTMEG IS A SUBTLE SPICE WITH A SHARP FLAVOUR OF HAZELNUT AND BITTER LEMON. IT IS USED IN SMALL QUANTITIES TO ADD AN EXOTIC FLAVOUR TO MANY DISHES. NUTMEG IS USED AS A CONDIMENT AND IN MEDICINE. OIL OF NUTMEG IS EMPLOYED FOR FLAVOURING FOOD PRODUCTS & LIQUOR. IT IS ALSO USED IN LINIMENTS, PERFUMERY & HAIR LOTIONS. PRECAUTIONS: NUTMEG SHOULD BE TAKEN IN VERY SMALL DOSES AS IN LARGE DOSES, IT EXCITES THE MOTOR CORTEX AND PRODUCES EPILEPTIC CONVULSIONS & LESSIONS IN THE LIVER. EVEN A TEASPOON OF NUTMEG CAN PRODUCE TOXIC SYMPTOMS SUCH AS BURNING IN THE STOMACH, NAUSEA, VOMITING, RESTLESSNESS, GIDDINESS WITH FEAR OF DEATH AND FEELING OF GREAT EXCITEMENT