Gnetum gnemon

9.9

A small tropical tree with shiny dark green leaves whose young leaves and seeds people eat or grind into flour

noun

Specialized

: Gnetum gnemon

The leaves of Gnetum gnemon are widely used in Southeast Asian cuisine.

Examples

Farmers harvest the seeds of Gnetum gnemon to process into flour for traditional cakes.
The Gnetum gnemon tree thrives in tropical climates.
Because of its nutritional value, Gnetum gnemon is increasingly grown in home gardens.
Many farmers cultivate Gnetum gnemon for its edible leaves.
Farmers harvest the seeds of Gnetum gnemon to process into flour for traditional cakes.
Because of its nutritional value, Gnetum gnemon is increasingly grown in home gardens.
Many farmers cultivate Gnetum gnemon for its edible leaves.

Synonyms

gnetum

vsGnetum gnemon

Specialized

1 9.9

A small tropical tree or shrub with shiny green leaves whose young leaves and seeds are eaten

is cultivated mainly for young leaves and seeds that are used to make flour

Surface Forms

Gnetum gnemon singular

Gnetum gnemons plural

Morphology

gnetum + gnemon

This is a scientific Latin binomial (genus + species) used as a taxonomic name rather than a compositional English phrase. The constituent elements are not ordinary English vocabulary with transparent semantic contribution (and 'gnemon' has no lexical entry), so a B1 learner who knows the parts would not be able to derive the specific botanical meaning. Such proper names are language-specific and non-compositional for general learners, making the expression opaque.

Etymology

Gnetum gnemon may come from old local words for the tree's edible seeds and leaves; picture people pointing to the tree and naming it for the food it gives. That's why the name fits a small tropical tree grown for its young leaves and seeds used to make 'flour'.