Leea aculeata Blume

Shrub to small tree up to 10 m, trunk and main branches with spines. Leaves 1-pinnate, leaflets (5-) 7(-9). Petiole 2-6 cm; stipules a narrow wing, c. ½ by (1-)2-3 (?-4) cm, scar of similar length; rachis (3-) 6-12 (-15) cm. Leaflets elliptic to elliptic-oblong, occasionally ovate to ovate-oblong, (6-) 10-20(-25) by (2½-) 4-6(-10) cm, glabrous, subcoriaceous; pearl glands globose, black, infrequent; margin serrulate; apex long-acuminate; base rounded to cuneate; mature leaves with a characteristic yellowish-grey reticulate drying pattern; nerves 6-12 pairs; petiolules up to 2 cm. Inflorescences 7-20 cm long, broad and multi-branched; bracts deltoid to narrowly triangular up to 3 by 1½ mm; peduncle 0-10 cm. Flowers 5-merous, greenish white. Calyx 3 by 3 mm, glabrous; lobes 2 by 1 mm. Corolla tube + staminodial lobes 4 mm long; corolla lobes 3 by 1½-2 mm. Staminodial tube 3-3½ mm long; upper free part 1½ mm, lobes slightly cleft, sinuses shallow; upper part 1½-1¾ mm extending downwards to the ovary (the upper portion of this lower part often thickened to form a conspicuous rim). Filaments 1¼ mm, anthers 1¼ mm. Ovary 4-6-celled, style 2 mm. Fruit 10-15 (-20) mm ø, shallowly grooved, blue-black; seeds usually 6, 6-12 by 3-6 mm, often less by abortion, rumination outline simple, endosperm simply ruminate.

Common in thickets and second-growth forests, especially along streams; at low and medium elevations, sometimes ascending to 1,300 metres.

Young leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

Plants can be grown from seeds.