Tetradenia obovata Nees in Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 64. 1831; Litsea obovata (Nees) Nees (1836), not Hayata (1911).

Trees, 10-18 m tall, ca. 20 cm d.b.h. Branchlets stout, densely ferruginous pubescent. Leaves 3-5-clustered at apex of branchlet, subverticillate; petiole 3-7 cm, yellowish brown pubescent; leaf blade shiny adaxially, obovate, obovate-oblong, or elliptic-oblong, 15-50 × 5.5-22 cm, ferruginous pubescent or glabrate abaxially when old, glabrous adaxially, triplinerved, lateral veins 6 or 7 pairs, lowermost pair arising 1-2 cm from base, base cuneate or rotund, apex acuminate or acute, tip obtuse. Racemes composed of umbels, 5-flowered; peduncle 1.2-2.5 cm. Pedicel ca. 3 mm. Perianth segments 6, yellow, ovate. Male flowers: fertile stamens 9; filaments short, villous at base, of 3rd whorls each with 2 oblate glands at base; rudimentary ovary pilose. Female flowers: ovary subglobose, villous. Fruit oblong or ellipsoid, 2.5-4.5 × 1-2 cm, seated on flat discoid perianth tube. Fl. Apr-May, fr. to Mar of next year.

This species is characterized by its large fruit. The seeds may be used for their oil. The bark is used medicinally to treat fractures.

Valleys, streamsides, moist mixed forests; 1000-2700 m. SE Xizang, S and SE Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Nepal].