Argyreia maingayi (C.B.Clarke) Hoogland

Stems twining, patently fulvous-hirsute when young, later on glabrescent. Leaves ovate, rarely elliptic-oblong or obovate, 9-20 by 3½-11 cm; rounded at the base or shortly attenuate into the petiole, acuminate at the apex; upper surface glabrous or nearly so, lower surface strigose-hirsute on the nerves only; midrib and 5-6 nerves on either side prominent beneath, minor nervation reticulate, rather prominent beneath; petiole 1½-5 cm, sparsely patent-to appressed-hirsute. Peduncles axillary, stout, terete, 2½-4 cm long, patently hirsute, deeply longitudinally grooved when dry; flowers in a dense, capitate cyme at the end of the peduncle; diam. of capitulum 5-9, with the corollas up to 17 cm, in poorly developed specimens smaller. Outer bracts broadly ovate to narrowly lanceolate, obtuse to acute at the apex, rounded at the base, 2½-4 cm long, rather sparsely fulvous-hirsute to nearly glabrous outside and at the margins, glabrous inside; upper bracts smaller and narrower. Pedicels very short or none. Sepals ovate-oblong, long-acuminate, three outer ones 11-15 mm long, of which the acumen 6-9 mm, long-hirsute outside, the basal part glabrous; two inner ones 9-13 mm long. Corolla funnel-shaped with distinct tube, 4½-6 cm long, white with pink, red, crimson or purple stripe on the middle of each lobe; limb subentire, midpetaline bands hirsute, connecting fields glabrous. Stamens and style included. Filaments glandular-pilose at the base. Ovary glabrous, 2-celled. Fruitovoid, ca 12 mm long, pink, 1-seeded.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the forests. It is often along the edges of rivers. It grows up to 1,000 m altitude.

Uses. The slightly sweet fruits are said to be edible; ALVINS states that a decoction of the roots may be used externally for pains in the bones.