Robert Pokopatz, age 14, of Orlando, Fla., for his question:

WHERE DO WE GET NUTMEG?

Nutmeg is the kernel of a tropical fruit that is widely used as a spice. The fruit is grown on evergreen nutmeg trees that are as much as 70 feet high.

Originally the nutmeg trees grew only on the Molucca Islands, which are also called the Spice Islands. Now they are also successfully grown in all of the East Indies, the West Indies, Brazil, India and Sri Lanka.

Nutmeg trees do not start bearing until they are about 9 years old. Then, each tree produces 1,500 to 2,000 nuts yearly. The fleshy part of the fruit is often preserved and eaten like candy. A clear oil, called oil of mace, is made from the kernel.

The spice called mace comes from the bright scarlet membrane that partly covers the nut. Familiar household nutmeg comes from the kernels.