Helicia rufescens Prain

Tree 10-24 m by 60 cm; branchlets stout, dark rufous-tomentose, tardily glabrescent. Leaves obovate or obovate-oblong, rarely broadly oblanceo-late, apex shortly attenuate, subacute to nearly rounded-obtuse, base ± long-cuneate and ± de-current in the upper part of the petiole, subcoriaceous, dull olive-green to blackish-brown above when dry, dark rufous-tomentose on both faces when very young, gradually glabrescent, usually tomentose or hairy for a long time on the midrib above and at least on the nervation beneath, entire (serrate only in very young specimens or suckers), 15-30 by (5-)6-11 cm, upper ones smaller (those of suckers up to 40 by 13 cm); midrib elevated on both faces, nerves (8-) 12 pairs, lowest ones close, straight and parallel, upper ones spaced, curved and ± distinctly anastomosing, all slightly prominent beneath only, reticulations subinconspic-uous; petiole rufous-tomentose, 3-4(-5) by 1/5-1/3 cm, more slender and shorter in the upper leaves or in mountain forms. Racemes axillary or ramiflorous, solitary or in twos, (10-)15-20 cm, dense-flowered, dark rufous-tomentose; rhachis 1.5-2 mm diam. Bracts ovate, minute. Pedicels rather robust, mostly in twos and connate up to their middle, 1-2(-3) mm. Perianth 12 mm, tube 0.8 mm diam., limb clavate 1½ mm diam. Anthers c. 2 mm. Disk glands obtuse, free. Ovary rufous-villous; style slender, glabrous. Fruit subglobose, flattened laterally, broadly attenuate at both ends, or contracted at the base into a short stipe, yellowish-brown, dark brown when dry, rufous-tomentose when young, ± glabrescent at full maturity, 2.5-3 by 2-2.5 cm, 1.5-1.8 cm thick; pericarp coriaceous, 1 mm; pedicel 6-7 by 2 mm.

Open forests on hills at elevations from 150-450 metres, also found in the Cameron Highlands at elevations from 1,200-1,500 metres.

Uses. Wood is reported to be very hard.

Can be grown by seedlings.