Common Name: Melinjo

General Information

Gnetum gnemon is a slender, evergreen tree, usually growing around 5 - 10 metres tall but sometimes reaching up to 18 metres. The trunk is straight, with conspicuous, raised rings and grey bark[, ]. This species belongs to a genus that is a supposed link between conifers and angiosperms[].
A multipurpose tree, widely used by the local population for food, medicine, fibre and various other commodities. The plant is gathered from the wild and also commonly planted in or near gardens[, ]. The seeds are commonly sold in local markets[].
The primary threat to this species is habitat loss through conversion of forests into crop plantations, commercial logging, expansion of urban areas and shifting agriculture at hillside locations. It is cultivated, but also wild specimens are harvested for fruits, leaves, and bark. It is unknown whether this threatens the wild population. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea to Fiji.

Habitat

Occasional in lowland ridges and mature fallow forest[]. Commonly found in secondary humid evergreen dipterocarp forests, often growing on river banks; at elevations up to 1,200 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	18.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Moths
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in humid tropical areas at elevations up to 1,200 metres[, ]. Very tolerant of different levels of rainfall, succeeding with a mean annual rainfall in the range 750 - 5,000mm[].
Prefers a position in semi shade in a humus-rich, moist soil[]. Tolerates full sun[]. Succeeds in heavy shade[]. Succeeds in a wide range of well-drained soils, preferably slightly acid to neutral, but tolerating calcareous rocks[]. Tolerant of low fertility soils[]. Able to tolerate drought for some months, assuming some soil moisture retention or irrigation during dry season[]. Tolerant of strong winds, so long as they do not carry salt spray[].
Plants are deeply rooted with a strong tap root system[].
The plant exists in several varieties, in particular there is the tree form (var. Gnemon) and three shrub forms (vars., brunonianum, griffithii and tenerum) The cultivated trees belong to Gnetum gnemon var. Gnemon and are larger, with larger fruits[].
Melinjo has the ability to improve nitrogen levels in the soil due to its mycorrhizal associations with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Scleroderma sinnamariense[]. In experimental conditions, mycorrhizal inoculation appears to enhance seedling growth under shaded conditions in acidic soils[].
A dioecious plant, male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.

A coupled process of double fertilization and post-fertilization endosperm formation occurs in the genus Gnetum. However the product of the second fertilization event in Gnetum is diploid and expresses the developmental programme of an embryo. In G. Gnemon, egg cells are not formed and maternal provisioning of the embryo-nourishing female gametophyte takes place entirely after fertilization. The lack of differentiated egg cells in G. Gnemon is unparalleled among land plants, the biological significance of double fertilization that does not form endosperm, in Gnetum, is currently unknown. This process may be biologically neutral.
Seeds produced three times yearly in Indonesia, March-April, June-July and September-October. The strobili are visited by nectar-seeking moths of Pyralidae and Geometridae. The sticky pollen of Gnetum attaches on proboscides and antennae of these moths. Lack of showy petals, an apparent disadvantage in entomophily is compensated for by floral fragrancy

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked[, ]. Steamed and eaten as a potherb[, , ].

Seed - edible raw but usually cooked or preserved[, , ]. The nutritious seeds are boiled and eaten as a snack like peanuts[, ]. Eaten as a dessert nut[]. The seeds have a slight bitterness[]. A fine flour can be obtained from the ground up seed - it is used for making thin crackers, known as 'emping', which are fried in coconut oil and eaten with rice etc[, ]. The seed is 2 - 4cm long, turning scarlet to red-tinged orange when ripe[].

The fruits and inflorescences are added to soups and vegetable dishes[, ].

Peel of the ripe fruit is dried and used in soups[]. Somewhat tasteless[].

The sap from the stem is drinkable[].

Medicinal

The leaf sap is used medicinally to cure an eye complication[].

Agroforestry Uses:

It is possible to use this tree for dryland rehabilitation and reforestation. It can survive annual rainfall of 750 - 1,000mm[].
In Papua New Guinea this species can be found growing alongside breadfruit (Artocarpus spp.), Pandanus conoideus and other food and fibre species. It is intercropped with several species like Arctocarpus camansi, Pandanus spp., Durio spp., Nephelium lappaceum (rambutan) and Parkia sp[].

Other Uses

The bast fibres provide durable cordage for fishing nets, lines, string bags and other durable tools[, ].The fibre is durable in sea water[]. A potential economic use of this plant is the utilisation of its bark in rope making[].

Wood smoke and topical applications reduced biting of human volunteers by the anopheline mosquitoes by 79% and 51%, respectively[]. Enzyme inhibition prevents insect predation of foliage[].

The wood is used for pulp, house construction, paper and boxes[]

Propagation

Seed - best sown in situ[]. Daily watering of the sand and seed mixture will hasten germination, possibly to three months[]. Without a pre-germination treatment, germination may be 1-2% in 6 months and may reach 100% in 12 months[].
Air layering[].
Short cuttings, taken beneath a node[].

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