View source for Gnetum gnemonoides (PROSEA)

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Gnetum gnemonoides'' (PROSEA)}}
<big>''[[Gnetum gnemonoides]]'' Brongn.</big>
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:Family: Gnetaceae

== Synonyms ==

''Gnetum wrayi'' Gamble.

== Vernacular names ==

*Indonesia: tali ganemu (Moluccas), rukiti gumi gumini (Halmahera), wali sowa (Ambon).

== Distribution ==

Peninsular Malaysia, Belitung, Borneo, Sulawesi, the Moluccas, the Philippines, New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago.

== Uses ==

The stems are used as ropes; young stems are split as binding material for fish-hooks. Roasted seeds are edible, but not very palatable.

== Observations ==

A large dioecious liana. Leaves decussately opposite, petiolate, simple, elliptical, up to 20 cm × 8 cm, entire, glabrous, pinnately veined, finely striate above. Inflorescence an axillary spike up to 4 cm long, with collars containing sessile flowers; male flowers with a claw-shaped perianth and 1 stamen; female flowers with single ovule enclosed in a fleshy envelope. Seed ellipsoid, enclosed in a fleshy, pink, warty outer envelope, a woody, ribbed middle one and a thin, silky inner one. ''G. gnemonoides'' occurs in lowland rain forest, up to 300 m altitude. The inner bark fibre of several other ''Gnetum'' species is used in Malesia for twisting thread, string and cordage, especially valued for fishing lines and nets, e.g. ''G. gnemon'' L. and ''G. latifolium'' Blume, of which, however, the edible seeds are more important. ''G. cuspidatum'' Blume, ''G. leptostachyum'' Blume and ''G. macrostachyum'' Hook.f. are used for similar purposes in Indo-China. ''Gnetum'' fibre is strong and durable.

== Selected sources ==

47, 49, 50, 66.

== Authors ==

M. Brink, P.C.M. Jansen & C.H. Bosch

[[Category:Fibres (PROSEA)]]
[[Category:PROSEA]]