Helicia nilagirica Bedd.

Trees 5-15 m tall. Branchlets apically densely rust-colored pilosulose, glabrescent. Petiole 0.5-2(-3.5) cm; leaf blade papery to ± leathery, glabrescent in age, base cuneate and somewhat decurrent into petiole, margin entire, sometimes distinctly serrate or serrate on apical half, apex shortly acuminate, ± acute, or obtuse; secondary veins 5-8(-10) on each side of midvein, abaxially raised; reticulate veins conspicuous on both surfaces. Inflorescences axillary or ramiflorous, 10-18(-24) cm, rust-colored tomentose when young, glabrescent; bracts of flower pairs lanceolate, ca. 1 mm, pilose; floral bracts ca. 0.5 mm. Pedicels 1.5-4.5 mm, basally connate. Perianth white or yellowish, 1.2-1.8 cm, glabrescent. Anthers ca. 2.5 mm. Hypogynous glands free or connate into a 4-lobed cup. Ovary glabrous. Fruit dark green, ovoid to globose, (2-)2.5-3.5 cm in diam., base contracted into a short stipe, apex shortly apiculate; pericarp 1.5-3 mm, hard, leathery. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Nov-Jul.

It is a subtropical plant. It is native to the eastern Himalayas region in China. It grows among trees in sunny hillsides between 1,100-2,100 m altitude. In Yunnan.

The seeds are cooked and eaten.

Can be grown by seedlings.