Myristica malabarica is a 25 m tall evergreen tree species of the Western Ghats mountains of southwest India and also in Sri Lanka. The species has an area of occupancy (AOO) of 488 km² and extent of occurrence (EOO) of 291,237 km². The species has an estimated population of 8,800 mature individuals restricted to 100-1,000 m elevations. There has been a continuing decline in the quality of habitat and the major threat was the large-scale conversion of evergreen and swamp forests for dams and reservoirs, timber and industrial plantations, agriculture and infrastructure development. The species along with other members of the family including Myristica beddomei, Gymnacranthera canarica and Knema attenuata form important components of the threatened Myristica swamp forests. There had been substantial reduction in the population due to reclamation of the habitat. This has led to a suspected population decline of at least 30% over the last three generations. Awareness, species recovery plans and ecological restoration are required. Hence the species is assessed as Vulnerable (VU).

 The species is known from the Western Ghats of southwest India and Sri Lanka.

It is an important component of the tropical rainforests and Myristica swamp forests of the Western Ghats that it inhabits between 100-1,000 m elevations. The population estimated for the species is ~8,800 mature individuals. There had been substantial reduction in the population due to reclamation of the habitat. This has led to a suspected population decline of at least 30% over the last three generations.

Myristica malabarica is a medium sized mid canopy evergreen tree (up to 25 m high) confined to 100-1,000 m asl. It is found in evergreen and Myristica swamp forests of the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka Biodiversity hotspot. The suitable habitat are wet areas within the tropical evergreen forests. The species along with other members of the family including Myristica beddomei, Gymnacranthera canarica and Knema attenuata form the important component of the threatened Myristica swamp forests. It serves as an important part of the diet of hornbills and ungulates of the rainforests.

The wet habitats of the forest are threatened chiefly due to large-scale conversion for timber and softwood plantations, dams and reservoirs, infrastructure development and agriculture.

The species is known as ‘Wild nutmeg’ and used in traditional medicines.

Habitat and species recovery and management are essential for the species but some of the forest management plans for the Myristica swamp forest mention this species. More research and resources are needed to protect this species in the wild. The species is known from ex situ collections and protected areas (BGCI 2023).