Entada spiralis Ridl.

Woody climber, at least 25 m long; stem flattened, in a spiral. Leaves: rachis (4.4-)5-8.5 cm, densely puberulous to tomentose; pinnae 2 pairs, 4-9 cm, densely puberulous to tomentose; leaflets 3 or 4 pairs per pinna, opposite, chartaceous, glaucous beneath, narrowly obovate-elliptic to obovate, unequal-sided, 1.8-6.5 by 0.9-3 cm, base ± asymmetrical, rounded to broadly cuneate, apex rounded-truncate, emarginate, glabrous. Inflorescence: spikes solitary in the leaf-axils, c. 15-20 cm, rachis sparsely puberulous to tomentose. Flowers sessile or subsessile, pentamerous, male or bisexual. Calyx green, cup-shaped, 0.5-1 mm, densely puberulous to glabrous; teeth inconspicuous. Petals white, elliptic, acute, glabrous, 2.5-3 mm. Stamens c. 6 mm, whitish green or white, turning yellow. Ovary glabrous, c. 1.5 mm, stipe 0.2-0.5 mm. Pod large, spirally coiled, c. 1.2-1.8 by c. 0.06 m wide, segments triangular and irregular; epicarp woody, endocarp chartaceous to parchmentlike. Seeds brown, irregularly compressed by the segments of the pod, c. 6-6.5 by 5 by 1.5-1.8 cm.

Primary and secondary rain forest, most commonly in secondary growth; at elevations up to 540 metres.

Uses According to Burkill (l.c.), the species is, like E. rheedii, used mainly for its saponine content of bark and seed.

Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.