Gnetum africanum

Gnetum africanum
Gnetum africanum, from the coastal rainforest of Cameroon.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Gnetophyta
Order: Gnetales
Family: Gnetaceae
Genus: Gnetum
Species:
G. africanum
Binomial name
Gnetum africanum
Synonyms
  • Thoa africana (Welw.) Doweld

Gnetum africanum (eru or African jointfir) is a species of vine native to tropical Africa. Though bearing leaves, the genus Gnetum are gymnosperms, related to pine and other conifers.

Gnetum africanum has numerous common names and is grown in various countries across Africa, including: Cameroon (Eru, okok, m’fumbua, or fumbua), Angola (KoKo), Nigeria (ukazi, "okazi", or afang), Gabon (Nkumu), Central African Republic (KoKo), Congo (KoKo), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (m’fumbua or fumbua). Gnetum africanum has also been referred to as a form of ‘wild spinach’ in English.