Part 7/16:
One notable plant, nutmeg, was especially valuable. The spice, originally from the Maluku Islands (one famous among these was Rune), was considered a miracle crop. Singapore’s nutmeg plantations contributed to the development of Orchard Road, named after the nutmeg orchards that once lined the area. The British and Dutch fought over the Spice Islands for centuries, and the seeds were carefully transported and cultivated in Singapore, fueling a boom that ultimately ended in disappointment due to pests like the Fluio Sinus Ribatus beetle.