调羹树 tiao geng shu

Helicia lobata Merrill, Lingnan Sci. J. 6: 276. 1928; H. caulifloroides W. T. Wang.

Trees 5-20 m tall. Young branchlets and leaves appressed rust-colored tomentose. Leaves dimorphic, simple or pinnatipartite; petiole 4-8 cm; leaf blade leathery, base cuneate, abaxially tomentose along reticulate veins but glabrescent, adaxially glabrescent, margin entire, apex shortly acuminate; reticulate veins raised, conspicuous. Simple leaf blade oblong, 10-25 × 5-7 cm. Pinnatipartite leaf blade 20-60 × 20-40 cm, lobes 2-8 pairs, sinuses somewhat rounded. Inflorescences ramiflorous, pilose; bracts of flower pairs lanceolate, ca. 1 mm. Male inflorescences 7-12 cm. Female inflorescences 2-5 cm. Perianth yellowish, pilose. Male flowers: pedicel 1-2 mm to subsessile; perianth 0.8-1.2 cm; anthers ca. 2 mm; hypogynous glands free; pistillode glabrous. Female flowers: pedicel ca. 3 mm; perianth ca. 1 cm, pilose; staminodes ca. 1.5 mm; ovary ovoid, glabrous; style ca. 8 mm, apex ± clavate; stigma lateral. Fruit yellowish green, ellipsoid to ovoid-ellipsoid, somewhat compressed, 7-9 × 5-6 cm; exocarp ca. 1 mm thick; mesocarp 2-4 mm thick, soft fibers numerous and persistent when dry; endocarp 3-4 mm thick. Fl. May-Jul, fr. Nov-Dec.

* Rain forests; below 100 to 800 m. Hainan.

This species provides timber and edible seeds.