Thoa piquant
Gnetum urens

Family: Gnetaceae

What it is like

A climbing vine. The bark has white to yellow latex. The leaves are opposite. Plants are separately male and female. The flowers are in rings or spikes. The fruit is narrowly oval. It is 3-4 cm long by 2 cm wide. It is yellow but turns purplish-red. The seed is edible.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest especially along rivers and on open slopes. In the Guianas it grows from sea level to 900 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten raw after the shell has been removed.

Edible parts

Seeds, nuts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Blume-hua-acu, Blume-hua-assu, Cipo-do-cacador, Cipo-grande, Gneto-toa, Thoa piquant

Synonyms

Gnemon urens (Aubl.) Kuntze; Gnetum leyboldii var. woodsonianum Markgr.; Gnetum melinonii Benoist; Gnetum thoa Brongn.; Gnetum woodsonianum (Markgr.) Won; Thoa urens Aubl.;