#gnemon

Gnetum gnemon is a fascinating species from the perspective of plant anatomy and convergent evolution. It is a gymnosperm so therefore not a flowering plant and more related to conifers than the broad leaved trees it resembles. The edible seeds resemble fruits or berries and are even commonly called melinjo fruit but botanically are female strobili.

Gnetum gnemon. Gnetum is a fascinating genus. It is the only genus in the family Gnetaceae and is much more closely related to Welwitschia (one of the weirdest plants on the planet) and Ephedra than to the Angiosperms that it superficially resembles. Convergent evolution fascinates me. 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. How awesome is that? I've been waiting for a while to get a decent photograph of these male strobilii. Think gymnosperm "flowers". I've photographed the female strobilii but to me they are visually less interesting. This is about as good as it gets for a geek like me. If only it ate bugs :-(.

Gnetum gnemon or our local Malay called it #Belinju” 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 and Fiji. Common names include #gnemon, #melinjo, #belinjo, kuliat/culiat, bago, bigo and padi oats or paddy oats. Friends from hometown Borneo brought them today. Thank you! #streetgram #streetphotocolor #streetcapture #grammercollective #photograph #photographer #photolovers #streetphotomag #streetphotographercommunity #streetphotographycolor #colorfulnyc #streephotographer #streetphotography #streetgrammer #street_life #streetlife #photographylovers #newyorkcitylife #lifeonthestreets #instagramnyc #streetfinder #streetselect #worldstreetfeature (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4dH4_8nuiz/?igshid=16ykemth9tan1

Cielo Di Cemento - Ghemon & The Love 4tet