Gnetum

plant genus

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Gnetum is a genus of tropical gymnosperm plants belonging to the division Gnetophyta. This genus comprises over 30 species, with most Asian varieties being woody vines, while African species are predominantly trees. One notable species, G. gnemon, is a tree that yields useful fiber and edible fruit.1

The leaves of Gnetum species are broad and feature a net-like veining, superficially resembling those of angiosperms (flowering plants). Additionally, their ovules (potential seeds) are enclosed, and their wood contains open-ended conducting cells called vessels, a characteristic also found in angiosperms. Some botanists have considered gnetophytes, including Gnetum, as potentially close to the ancestral stock of some angiosperms due to these shared features.12

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