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Gnetum
Gnetum is a genus of tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas (climbing vines), the only genus in the Gnetaceae family. Several species, such as Gnetum gnemon, are grown for their edible leaves and seeds.
Gnetum is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetidae. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been proposed to have been the first plants to be insect-pollinated as their fossils occur in association with extinct pollinating scorpionflies. Molecular phylogenies based on nuclear and plastid sequences from most of the species indicate hybridization among some of the Southeast Asian species. Fossil-calibrated molecular-clocks suggest that the Gnetum lineages now found in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia are the result of ancient long-distance dispersal across seawater.
Their leaves are rich in phytochemicals such as flavonoids and stilbenes.
Many Gnetum species are edible, with the seeds being roasted, and the foliage used as a leaf vegetable. The plant is harvested and yields a useful fiber. There is no sense of danger in consuming the fruit or the seeds.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Gnetum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
