Industrial Crop: Fiber  Management: Standard  Regional Crop  Staple Crop: Balanced carb

Grows best in humid tropical areas at elevations up to 1,200 metres[200 , 303 ]. Very tolerant of different levels of rainfall, succeeding with a mean annual rainfall in the range 750 - 5,000mm[303 ]. Prefers a position in semi shade in a humus-rich, moist soil[200 ]. Tolerates full sun[338 ]. Succeeds in heavy shade[974 ]. Succeeds in a wide range of well-drained soils, preferably slightly acid to neutral, but tolerating calcareous rocks[338 ]. Tolerant of low fertility soils[338 ]. Able to tolerate drought for some months, assuming some soil moisture retention or irrigation during dry season[338 ]. Tolerant of strong winds, so long as they do not carry salt spray[338 ]. Plants are deeply rooted with a strong tap root system[303 ]. The plant exists in several varieties, in particular there is the tree form (var. Gnemon) and three shrub forms (vars., brunonianum, griffithii and tenerum) The cultivated trees belong to Gnetum gnemon var. Gnemon and are larger, with larger fruits[303 ]. Melinjo has the ability to improve nitrogen levels in the soil due to its mycorrhizal associations with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Scleroderma sinnamariense[303 ]. In experimental conditions, mycorrhizal inoculation appears to enhance seedling growth under shaded conditions in acidic soils[303 ]. A dioecious plant, male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required. A coupled process of double fertilization and post-fertilization endosperm formation occurs in the genus Gnetum. However the product of the second fertilization event in Gnetum is diploid and expresses the developmental programme of an embryo. In G. Gnemon, egg cells are not formed and maternal provisioning of the embryo-nourishing female gametophyte takes place entirely after fertilization. The lack of differentiated egg cells in G. Gnemon is unparalleled among land plants, the biological significance of double fertilization that does not form endosperm, in Gnetum, is currently unknown. This process may be biologically neutral. Seeds produced three times yearly in Indonesia, March-April, June-July and September-October. The strobili are visited by nectar-seeking moths of Pyralidae and Geometridae. The sticky pollen of Gnetum attaches on proboscides and antennae of these moths. Lack of showy petals, an apparent disadvantage in entomophily is compensated for by floral fragrancy

Carbon Farming

• Industrial Crop: Fiber  Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
• Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
• Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
• Staple Crop: Balanced carb  (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.