''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees,

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s and

liana A liana is a long- stemmed, woody vine that is rooted in the soil at ground level and uses trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy in search of direct sunlight. The word ''liana'' does not refer to a ta ...

s. 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 Mecoptera (from the Greek language, Greek: ''mecos'' = "long", ''ptera'' = "wings") is an Order (biology), order of insects in the superorder Endopterygota with about six hundred species in nine Family (biology), families worldwide. Mecopterans ...

.Ren D, Labandeira CC, Santiago-Blay JA, Rasnitsyn A, Shih CK, Bashkuev A, Logan MA, Hotton CL, Dilcher D. (2009). Probable Pollination Mode Before Angiosperms: Eurasian, Long-Proboscid Scorpionflies. Science, 326 (5954), 840-847. 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.Won H, Renner SS: The internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA in the gymnosperm ''Gnetum''. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2005, 36:581-597. Won, H., and S. S. Renner. 2006. Dating dispersal and radiation in the gymnosperm ''Gnetum'' (Gnetales) – clock calibration when outgroup relationships are uncertain. Systematic Biology 55(4): 610-622. Their leaves are rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and stilbenes. Of the species studied so far, Gnetum have photosynthetic and transpiration capacities which are considerably lower than those of other seed plants, due to the absence of multiple chloroplast genes essential for photosynthesis, a trait they seem to share with the other living members of Gnetophyta, ''Ephedra'' and '' Welwitschia'', as well as

conifers Conifers are a group of cone-bearing seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single extant class, Pinopsida. All extan ...

. There are over 50 different species of ''Gnetum''.

Species

There are over 50 different species of ''Gnetum''. *''Gnetum'' sect. ''Gnetum'' **''Gnetum'' subsect. ''Gnetum'' - 2 species of trees; Southeast Asia,

Pacific Islands Collectively called the Pacific Islands, the islands in the Pacific Ocean are further categorized into three major island groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Depending on the context, the term ''Pacific Islands'' may refer to one of se ...

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Gnetum gnemon ''Gnetum gnemon'' is a species of ''Gnetum'' native to southeast Asia and the western Pacific Ocean islands, from Mizoram and Assam in India, south and east through Indonesia and Malaysia to the Philippines, Fiji, and Hawaii in the United States ...

'' - Tibet, Yunnan, Assam, Indochina,

Nicobar Islands The Nicobar Islands are an archipelagic island chain in the eastern Indian Ocean. They are located in Southeast Asia, northwest of Aceh on Sumatra, and separated from Thailand to the east by the Andaman Sea. Located southeast of the Indian s ...

, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Melanesia, Micronesia ***''

Gnetum costatum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - New Guinea, Solomon Islands **''Gnetum'' subsect. ''Micrognemones'' - 2 species of lianas; tropical west Africa ***''

Gnetum africanum ''Gnetum africanum'' (eru or African jointfir) is a vine gymnosperm species found natively throughout tropical Africa. Though bearing leaves, the genus ''Gnetum'' are gymnosperms, related to pine and other conifers. ''Gnetum africanum'' has num ...

'' - central Africa from Cameroon to Angola ***'' Gnetum buchholzianum'' - central Africa from Nigeria to Zaire **''Gnetum'' subsect. ''Araeognemones'' - 9 species of lianas; tropical South America and Central America - Ituá ***''

Gnetum camporum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have bee ...

'' - Venezuela ***''

Gnetum leyboldii ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' -

Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

, Panama, Venezuela,

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

, Ecuador, Peru, Amazonian Brazil ***''

Gnetum nodiflorum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, northwestern Brazil ***''

Gnetum paniculatum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Guianas, Venezuela, northwestern Brazil ***''

Gnetum schwackeanum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Amazonas State of southern Venezuela, northwestern Brazil ***''

Gnetum urens ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Guianas, Venezuela, Peru, northwestern Brazil ***''

Gnetum venosum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Bolívar State of southern Venezuela, northwestern Brazil *''Gnetum'' sect. ''Scandentia'' 'Gnetum'' sect. ''Cylindrostachys''- about 20 species of lianas; southern Asia **''Gnetum'' subsect. ''Stipitati'' ***''

Gnetum arboreum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have bee ...

'' - Luzon in Philippines ***''

Gnetum contractum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - southern India ***''

Gnetum edule ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - southern India ***''

Gnetum gracilipes ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have bee ...

'' - Yunnan +

Guangxi Guangxi (; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Kwanghsi; ; za, Gvangjsih, italics=yes), officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the People's Republic ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

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Gnetum latifolium ''Gnetum latifolium'' is an evergreen plant in the family Gnetaceae with a broad distribution across South East Asia. Although some of its habitat is threatened by logging and forest conversion to crops, its broad distribution afforded it an ass ...

'' - Assam, much of Southeast Asia, New Guinea,

Bismarck Archipelago The Bismarck Archipelago (, ) is a group of islands off the northeastern coast of New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean and is part of the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea. Its area is about 50,000 square km. History The first inhabitants o ...

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Gnetum montanum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Himalayas, southern China, northern Indochina ***''

Gnetum oblongum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Bangladesh,

Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...

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Gnetum pendulum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Tibet, southern China ***''

Gnetum tenuifolium ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have bee ...

'' - Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand,

Sumatra Sumatra is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the sixth-largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 (182,812 mi.2), not including adjacent i ...

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Gnetum ula ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' **''Gnetum'' subsect. ''Sessiles'' ***''

Gnetum acutum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Sarawak ***''

Gnetum bosavicum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Papua New Guinea ***''

Gnetum catasphaericum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - southern China ***''

Gnetum cleistostachyum ''Gnetum cleistostachyum'' is a liana species in the ''Sessiles'' subsection of the genus ''Gnetum'' described from South East Yunnan. The name is still invalid and efloras states it is advisable to postpone validating it until more complete c ...

'' - southern China ***''

Gnetum cuspidatum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines ***''

Gnetum diminutum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Borneo ***''

Gnetum formosum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have bee ...

'' - Vietnam ***''

Gnetum giganteum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Guangxi in China ***''

Gnetum globosum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Pahang in Malaysia ***''

Gnetum gnemonoides ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have bee ...

'' - New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Indonesia, Philippines ***''

Gnetum hainanense ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - southern China ***'' Gnetum klossii'' - Sabah ***''

Gnetum leptostachyum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have bee ...

'' -

Laos Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...

, Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo ***''

Gnetum loerzingii ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' -

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Gnetum luofuense ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi ***''

Gnetum macrostachyum ''Gnetum macrostachyum'' is a species of vine gymnosperm, native to tropical Asia. They are often harvested as a source of fiber. Description The Gnetum species is from the vine gymnosperm. Species number about 40 within this family. They fea ...

'' - Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea ***''

Gnetum microcarpum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra ***''

Gnetum neglectum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have bee ...

'' - Borneo ***''

Gnetum oxycarpum ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Sumatra ***''

Gnetum parvifolium ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Laos, Vietnam, southern China ***''

Gnetum raya ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Borneo ***''

Gnetum ridleyi ''Gnetum'' is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae within the Gnetophyta. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem. Some species have been ...

'' - Peninsular Malaysia

Uses

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. There is also a study done on the plant to see if it has any medicinal properties, finding some anti-coagulation effects due to its stilbenoid content. The family Gnetaceae is well known as a rich source of plant-derived stilbenoids as well as Cyperaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Fabaceae, and Vitaceae.

Conservation

Some species of Gnetum are in danger of dying out. The habitats are being removed with the trees being cut down to create industry. The tropical rainforest are being destroyed so many of the species are going extinct such as ''Gnetum oxycarpum''. The rainforests are being torn down and being turned into farmland. ''Gnetum'' live in only a small part of the rainforest.

Gallery

File:倪藤果 Gnetum gnemon -檳城熱帶果園 Tropical Fruit Farm, Penang- (9222653200).jpg, ''

'' carpellate/female cones File:Gnetum latifolium - കറുത്ത ഓടൽ.jpg, ''

'' staminate/male cones File:Gnetum africanum Leaves (Eru, Okok).jpg, Gathered leaves of ''

'' File:Gnetum gnemon seeds, by Omar Hoftun.jpg, ''

'' seeds

References

External links

Gymnosperm Database - ''Gnetum''
*Kloypan, Chiraphat & Jeenapongsa, Rattima & Sri-In, Piyawit & Chanta, Surin & Dokpuang, Dech & Tip-Pyang, Santi & Surapinit, Serm. (2012). Stilbenoids from Gnetum macrostachyum Attenuate Human Platelet Aggregation and Adhesion. Phytotherapy research : PTR. 26. 1564-8. 10.1002/ptr.4605. *https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1916.tb05408.x *http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-334161... {{Taxonbar, from=Q131550 Gnetaceae Medicinal plants Dioecious plants Gymnosperm genera