Edible: Leaves, Fruit, Flowers, Seeds, Nuts, Vegetable
A shrub or small tree about 10 m high. It can grow to 20 m high. It normally has a cone shaped crown. The bark is greyish brown. The small branches are slender and like a vine. The leaves are produced in pairs opposite each other. They are dark green and shiny, oval and pointed at both ends. The leaves are 7.5-12.5 cm long by 2.5-7.5 cm wide. Trees are either male or female. Male spikes are 3-6 cm long. They consist of 50-80 very small flowers in rings along the stalk. Flowers are produced as cones made up of rings of scales along stalks 3-6 or 12 cm long. There are 5-8 flowers at each node. Fruits are oval and green when young but red when ripe. Fruit are 2-3 cm long and contain one seed.
A tropical plant. It suits the lowland tropics. Trees occur in tropical rainforest from sea level to about 1200 metres altitude. It does best with rainfalls of 3000-5000 mm per year. It is best with an annual temperature of 22-30°C. It needs a temperature above 13°C. These trees grow in Malaysia, Indonesia and islands out to Fiji. They can grow on a range of soils but do best on deep well drained soils. It grows well in acid soils. It can grow in full sun but also tolerate shade. It cannot tolerate salt spray. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Common Names: Ambiam, Annel, Asisang, Bago, Bagor, Bagu, Banago, Belingar, Belingo, Belinjau, Belinjo, Dae fasia, Dae malefo, Dae, Daefasia, Daemalefo, Daun dodah, Daun melinjo, Daun sabong, Eso, Gam cay bet, Gnemo, Guan zhuang mai ma teng, Hagenamu, Hanthu, Hawa, Houka, Hyinbyin, Hyingyin, Kegalu, Kekoso, Keigi, Khlow, Ki tangkil, Kopaiyo, Kusalu, Lenge, Leqe, Liang, Lota badam, Maninjau, Melindjo, Melinjau, Meninjau, Mhalivo, Molingu, Nyia nwasoli, Pee sae, Peesae, Pelh, Phak kariang, Phak miang, Phalap ri, Poke, Rangkil sake, Sa naroka, Sabong, Sake, Sejunteh, Shangpan,Sikau, So, Sokak, Suagafa, Suga, Sukau, Tanyin-ywe, Trangkil, Two leaf, Voe Khlaet, Wanso, Wansu, Wasu, Xian zhou mai ma teng, Yabare
Synonyms:
Gnemon domestica Rumph.;
Gnemon silvestris Rumph.;
Gnetum acutatum Miq.;
Gnetum brunonianum Griff.;
Gnetum gnemon var. domesticum MGF;
Gnetum gnemon var. laurinum Blume;
Gnetum gnemon var. lucidum Blume;
Gnetum gnemon var. majusculum Blume;
Gnetum gnemon var. ovalifolium (Poir.) Blume;
Gnetum gnemon var. stipitatum MGF;
Gnetum gnemon var. sylvestris Parl.;
Gnetum gnemon var. volubile MGF;
Gnetum griffithii Parl.;
Gnetum ovalifolium Poir.;
Gnetum silvestris Brongn.;
Gnetum vinosum Elmer;