Melinjo or belinjo or tangkil (Gnetum gnemon) is a species of gymnosperms in Gnetaceae, dioecious, tree-shaped, living wild but also widely planted in the yard as a shade or barrier where seeds, seed coat and young leaves are processed into food.
G. gnemon is a tree and has a straight trunk, annual plants with open seeds, do not produce true flowers and fruit. Fake fruit is basically a seed wrapped in a layer of aryl fleshy. Single leaf oval and blunt tip.
Melinjo live for more than 100 years, 25 m tall and produce 80-100 kg of seeds per harvest. They adapt to a wide temperature range and very easy to find in various areas except the coast. Grows in forests, plantations and home gardens.
Belinjo can be found in arid, tropical regions and does not require highly nutritious soils or special climates. Grow on clay, sandy and calcareous soil at an altitude of 0-1,200 m, but cannot withstand waterlogged, acidic and saline soils.
Young leaves, seed shoots and seed coat are used as vegetable for sayur asem or soups. The seeds are forged for emping or chips. Melinjo is also a natural antimicrobial in which protein is used as a natural preservative of food and medicine.
TAXON
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Gnetophyta
Class: Gnetopsida
Order: Gnetales
Family: Gnetaceae
Genus: Gnetum L. in Mant. Pl. 1: 18 (1767)
Species: Gnetum gnemon L. in Mant. Pl. 1: 125 (1767)
Variety: Gnetum gnemon var. brunonianum (Griff.) Markgr., Gnetum gnemon var. gnemon, Gnetum gnemon var. gracile Markgr., Gnetum gnemon var. griffithii (Parl.) Markgr., Gnetum gnemon var. tenerum Markgr.
PUBLICATIONS
Dy Phon, P. (2000). Dictionnaire des plantes utilisées au Cambodge: 1-915. Chez l'auteur, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Fell, D.G. & al. (2015). First record of the Gnetales in Australia: Gnetum gnemon L. (Gnetaceae) on Badu and Mua islands, Torres Strait, Queensland. Austrobaileya 9: 421-430.
Govaerts, R. (2003). World Checklist of Seed Plants Database in ACCESS Genera starting with letter G: 1-40325.
Karthigeyan, K., Pandey, R.P. & Mao, A.A. (eds.) (2023). Flora of Andaman and Nicobar Islands 2: 1-689. Botanical Survey of India. Ministry of environment, forest and climate change.
Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
Plunkett, G.M., Ranker, T.A., Sam, C. & Balick, M.J. (2022). Towards a checklist of the vascular flora of Vanuatu. Candollea 77: 105-118.
Smith, A.C. (1979). Flora Vitiensis Nova. A new flora for Fiji (Spermatophytes only) 1: 1-495. Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai.
Wheatley, J.I. (1992). A guide to the common trees of Vanuatu. With lists of their traditional uses & ni-Vanuatu names: 1-308. Department of Forestry, Port Vila.
VERNACULAR NAME
Aceh: muliëng
Assamese: গনেমোৱে - জেনেমো
Bangai: Boolon
Bantoanon: Bago
English: Melinjo, Belinjau, Belinjo, Gnetum, Gnemon tree, Joint fir, Joint-fir spinach, Two leaf, Paddy oats
Filipino: Bago, lumbay
Hindi: Ganemoe, Genemo
Hindi: गेनेमो - जेनेमो
Indonesian: Melinjo, belinjo
Japanese: グネモンノキ
Java: Belinjo, Mlinjo
Kapuas hulu: Bidau
Karbi: Hanthu
Khmer: ខាឡេត
Makassar: Maninjo
Malay: Bellinjo
Mee: Poyade
Mizo: Pelh
Russian: Гнетум гнемон
Selayar: Ku'lang
Sunda: Tangkil
Thai: ผักเหมียง
Tok Pisin: Tulip
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