DESCRIPTION

The nutmeg tree, native to the Spice Islands, is the source of a second lesserknown
spice as well, and that is mace. (See Nutmeg for more about the history
and provenance of the tree, as well as more details on the harvesting process.)
The seed, or kernel, nestled inside the fruit of the tree is enveloped in a lacy
covering, or aril, of what are called mace blades, which are bright red when the
fruit is first split open.