Gnetum gnemonoides (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Gnetum gnemonoides Brongn.

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