Helicia terminalis Kurz, Forest Fl. Burma 2: 312. 1877; Heliciopsis lobata (Merrill) Sleumer var. microcarpa C. Y. Wu & T. Z. Hsu.

Trees 5-15 m tall. Young branchlets rust-colored tomentose, glabrescent. Leaves dimorphic, simple or tripartite to pinnatipartite; petiole 1-2.5 cm for simple leaves, 4-5 cm for divided leaves; leaf blade ± leathery, glabrescent in age, base cuneate to attenuate, margin entire, apex shortly acuminate, acuminate, or sometimes obtusely acute; secondary and reticulate veins conspicuous on both surfaces. Simple leaf blade oblanceolate to oblong, 12-35 × 4-10 cm. Divided leaf blade 25-60 × 15-50 cm, lobes 1-7 pairs, sinuses somewhat rounded. Inflorescences axillary or ramiflorous, rarely terminal on short branchlet, pilose; bracts of flower pairs linear to subulate 0.5-2 mm; floral bracts linear, ca. 0.5 mm. Perianth white or yellowish. Male inflorescences 10-20 cm. Female inflorescences stout, 15-22 cm. Male flowers: pedicel 5-7 mm; perianth 1.1-1.4 cm; anthers ca. 2.5 mm; pistillode glabrous; style apically clavate. Female flowers: pedicel 8-10 mm; perianth ca. 1.2 cm; staminodes ca. 1.5 mm; ovary ovoid, glabrous; style ca. 1 cm, apex ± compressed; stigma lateral. Fruit brownish, ellipsoid, 3-4.5 × 1.7-3 cm; exocarp ca. 0.5 mm thick; mesocarp ca. 1.5 mm thick, soft fibers nearly absent when dry; endocarp 0.5-1.5 mm thick. Fl. Mar-Jun, fr. Aug-Nov.

This species is used medicinally.

Rain forests; below 100 to 700(-1400) m. E Guangdong, SE Guangxi, Hainan, S to SE Yunnan [Bhutan, Cambodia, NE India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].