Initially native to the Moluccas Islands, nutmeg has come to be cultivated in many parts of the tropics, including Singapore and Malaysia. Its roundish, yellowish-brown fruits look like peaches and split slightly at maturity exposing the seed. A lacy, red mace covers the seed. Both the mace and seed serve as important spices and played an important role during the spice trade of Southeast Asia in the 18th and 19th centuries.