atherosperma moschata

2 definitions found

atherosperma moschata - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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 Molucca Islands, but cultivated
     elsewhere in the tropics.
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     Note: This fruit is a nearly spherical drupe, of the size of
           a pear, of a yellowish color without and almost white
           within. This opens into two nearly equal longitudinal
           valves, inclosing the nut surrounded by its aril, which
           is mace. The nutmeg is an aromatic, very grateful to
           the taste and smell, and much used in cookery. Other
           species of Myristica yield nutmegs of inferior
           quality.
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     American nutmeg, Calabash nutmeg, or Jamaica nutmeg,
        the fruit of a tropical shrub (Monodora Myristica). It
        is about the size of an orange, and contains many aromatic
        seeds imbedded in pulp.
  
     Brazilian nutmeg, the fruit of a lauraceous tree,
        Cryptocarya moschata.
  
     California nutmeg, a tree of the Yew family (Torreya  Californica
        ), growing in the Western United States, and
        having a seed which resembles a nutmeg in appearance, but
        is strongly impregnated with turpentine.
  
     Clove nutmeg, the Ravensara aromatica, a lauraceous tree
        of Madagascar. The foliage is used as a spice, but the
        seed is acrid and caustic.
  
     Jamaica nutmeg. See American nutmeg (above).
  
     Nutmeg bird (Zool.), an Indian finch (Munia punctularia).
        
  
     Nutmeg butter, a solid oil extracted from the nutmeg by
        expression.
  
     Nutmeg flower (Bot.), a ranunculaceous herb (Nigella  sativa
        ) with small black aromatic seeds, which are used
        medicinally and for excluding moths from furs and
        clothing.
  
     Nutmeg liver (Med.), a name applied to the liver, when, as
        the result of heart or lung disease, it undergoes
        congestion and pigmentation about the central veins of its
        lobules, giving it an appearance resembling that of a
        nutmeg.
  
     Nutmeg melon (Bot.), a small variety of muskmelon of a rich
        flavor.
  
     Nutmeg pigeon (Zool.), any one of several species of
        pigeons of the genus Myristicivora, native of the East
        Indies and Australia. The color is usually white, or
        cream-white, with black on the wings and tail.
  
     Nutmeg wood (Bot.), the wood of the Palmyra palm.
  
     Peruvian nutmeg, the aromatic seed of a South American tree
        (Laurelia sempervirens).
  
     Plume nutmeg (Bot.), a spicy tree of Australia
        (Atherosperma moschata).
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  Plume \Plume\, n. [F., fr. L. pluma. Cf. Fly, v.]
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     1. A feather; esp., a soft, downy feather, or a long,
        conspicuous, or handsome feather.
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              Wings . . . of many a colored plume.  --Milton.
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     2. (Zool.) An ornamental tuft of feathers.
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     3. A feather, or group of feathers, worn as an ornament; a
        waving ornament of hair, or other material resembling
        feathers.
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              His high plume, that nodded o'er his head. --Dryden.
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     4. A token of honor or prowess; that on which one prides
        himself; a prize or reward. "Ambitious to win from me some
        plume." --Milton.
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     5. (Bot.) A large and flexible panicle of inflorescence
        resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain large
        ornamental grasses.
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     Plume bird (Zool.), any bird that yields ornamental plumes,
        especially the species of Epimarchus from New Guinea, and
        some of the herons and egrets, as the white heron of
        Florida (Ardea candidissima).
  
     Plume grass. (Bot)
        (a) A kind of grass (Erianthus saccharoides) with the
            spikelets arranged in great silky plumes, growing in
            swamps in the Southern United States.
        (b) The still finer Erianthus Ravenn[ae] from the
            Mediterranean region. The name is sometimes extended
            to the whole genus.
  
     Plume moth (Zool.), any one of numerous small, slender
        moths, belonging to the family Pterophorid[ae]. Most of
        them have the wings deeply divided into two or more
        plumelike lobes. Some species are injurious to the
        grapevine.
  
     Plume nutmeg (Bot.), an aromatic Australian tree
        (Atherosperma moschata), whose numerous carpels are
        tipped with long plumose persistent styles.
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