Helixanthera lepidophylla (Walp.) Danser in Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, Ser. 3, 10: 317. 1929. Loranthus lepidophyllus Walp., Ann. Bot. Syst. 2: 730. 1852. L. arnottianus Wight in Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 6: 361. 1846 (non Korth. 1839). L. wightii Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 5: 207. 1886.

Branches terete; young leaves and branches covered with pale brown conchiform hairs, glabrous when old. Leaves opposite and alternate, ovate or broadly elliptic to orbicular, rounded or narrowed at base, obtuse at apex, 2 - 4.5 x 1 - 2.5 cm, coriaceous; lateral nerves 4 or 5 pairs; petioles glabrous, 5 - 6 mm long. Inflorescence spicate, axillary, solitary; peduncle solitary, 10 - 14-flowered, brown conchiform hairy when young, glabrous at length, 3 - 5 cm long; flower buds 3 - 4 mm long; flowers 4-merous, 5 - 6 mm long; bracts suborbicular, 1 - 1.5 x 0.8 - 1 mm. Calyculus cupular, 0.5 - 0.7 mm long. Petals 4, spathulate, with inflexed margins, 4 - 8 mm long. Stamens 4; filaments 3 - 5 mm long; anthers oblong. Ovary depressed globose, smooth, ca 1.2 mm long; style 0.5 - 0.8 mm long; stigma capitate with dense granulate surface. Fruits globose with depressed sides or urceolate with persistent calyculus, smooth, brown conchiform hairy, 2 - 2.5 x 1.5 - 1.8 mm.

Fl. & Fr. Feb. - Sept.

Distrib. India: Western Ghats, on a limited number or hosts, along roadsides in evergreen and semievergreen forests. Mostly in Tamil Nadu.

Endemic.

Notes. Vessel pittings scalariform; fibres excessively thick-walled, lateral walls usually smooth with pittings slit-like.

Pollen grains triangular; P - 22 (25.2) 31 µm; E - 33 (34.7) 38 µm; P/E - 0.71 µm; ex. 2 µm; col. 1 µm.