311 
Order CCXXVIII. GNETxVCE.®. 
GNETEiE, Blume in Ann. Sc. 2. Ser. 2. 105. (1834). — Gnetace^e, Lindl. in Bat. Reg. 1686. 
{July, 1834). 
Essential Character. — Flowers monoecious or dioecious, arranged in catkins or 
heads, involucrated with opposite decussating scales which are connate at the base or altoge- 
ther. — $ or Males. Calyx 1 -leaved, transversely slit at the end, projecting from its bottom 
a filament whose apex is simple or branched, and which bears one or several anthers ; cells 
of the anthers separated, or combined in various ways, opening by a pore at the apex. — 
$ or Females. Altogether naked, or sheltered by a false calyx consisting of two scales, 
more or less combined, each of which surrounds one or two flowers. Ovary perforated at 
the apex, containing in a single cavity a solitary erect ovule. Ovule pointed by a style-like 
process formed from the membrane of the nucleus. Not a trace of style or stigma. Fruit 
indehiscent, drupaceous, before maturity pierced at the point and terminated by a style- 
shaped protruded process ; finally pointless. Pericarp thickish, either altogether leathery 
or shelly or fibrous internally, and succulent externally. Seed-coat composed at the apex of 
a double, and at the base of a simple membrane. Embryo dicotyledonous, in the middle of 
fleshy albumen ; radicle superior. — Small trees very much branched, or sarmentose shrubs, 
with opposite or clustered branches, with thickened separable articulations. Leaves op- 
posite, entire, with pinnate veins, sometimes very minute and scale-shaped. Blume. Wood 
with the ligneous tissue marked with circular disks. 
Affinities. As I have had no opportunity of examining any species of 
the genus Gnetum in a fresh state, but as my observations upon its dried fruit 
lead me to adopt the opinion of Blume, I abstain from making any remarks 
beyond the following, translated from the paper of that learned Botanist in 
the Annales des Sciences : — 
“ This little family constitutes a part of that natural class of Vegetables in 
which the fertilization of the o\uile takes place immediately, without the aid of 
style or stigma, through the foramen of the ovule itself. Through Ephedra, 
which has been hitherto placed with Coniferse, the order is closely connected 
with the latter ; and on the other hand it tends towards Casuarinacese, plants 
of a higher degree of organization, since Gnetum is beyond all doubt an in- 
stance of a more perfect kind of evolution than either Coniferse or Cycadaceae. 
From both these orders Gnetaceae differ in the greater perfection of their 
sexual organs, especially of their stamens ; and at the same time their ovules 
are not absolutely naked, but covered wdth a pericarpial integument pierced at 
the summit. In the male flowers the perianth is tubular, at first quite closed 
up, in the way of certain Artocarpeae, but eventually it is ruptured by the rising 
stamen. There is no trace of a perianth of this sort in the neighbouring or- 
ders ; and in Coniferae a totally different organization of anther occurs, that 
part not opening as in Gnetaceae by transverse pores of the apex, but always at 
the side, and generally longitudinally.” For many other excellent remarks 
upon the details of the structure of Gnetum, see the same place. 
Gnetaceae appear allied to Chloranthaceae in their articulated stems, and 
subamentaceous inflorescence ; and Equisetaceae approach those through the 
genus Ephedra. 
Geography. Natives of the temperate parts of Europe, Asia, and South 
America, and in the case of Gnetum, of the hottest parts of India and 
Guiana. 
Properties. The interior of the pericarp of Gnetum urens is lined with 
stinging hairs ; the seeds are eaten ; the stem exudes a transparent gum, and 
w’hen cut across yields an abundance of clear transparent tasteless water which 
may be drank. Aubl. In Amboyna the seeds of Gnetum Gnemon are eaten 
roasted, boiled, or fried, and the green leaves form a favourite vegetable in lieu 
of Spinach ; they are, however, very tasteless. Rumf. 
