Helicteres spicata Colebrooke; H. spicata var. hainanensis Hance.

Shrubs, 1-3 m tall. Branchlets stellate. Petiole ca. 2 cm, densely tomentose; leaf blade ovate or ovate-oblong, 5-15 × 2.5-5 cm, both surfaces densely stellate puberulent, particularly abaxially, basal veins 5, base obliquely cordate or truncate, margin irregularly dentate, apex acuminate or acute. Inflorescence axillary, elongate, spikelike, one-sided, less than 1/2 as long as leaf blade, several-flowered. Pedicels shorter than flowers, articulate, with caducous epicalyx lobes at base. Calyx tubular, 12-15 mm, 4-5-lobed, puberulent. Petals red or red-purple, 2-2.5 cm, claw with pair of marginal teeth near apex. Androgyno-
phore glabrous. Stamens 10; staminodes 5, as long as filaments. Ovary verrucose; ovules 20-30 in each locule; style as long as ovary. Capsule long exserted on glabrous stalk, cylindric, 3.5-4 × 1.1-1.2 cm, apex beaked, densely villous and verrucose. Seeds numerous, 1-2 mm in diam., surface rugose. Fl. Apr-Sep.

Helicteres hirsuta is sometimes cultivated.

Open forests, bushlands. Guangdong, S Guangxi, Hainan [Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam].