Dichapetalum timoriense (DC.) Boerl., Handl. Fl. Ned. Ind. 1: 199. 1890. Chailletia timoriense DC., Prodr. 2: 57. 1825. Chailletia deflexifolia Turcz. in Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 36: 611. 1863; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 571. 1875, incl. var. tomentosa Hook. f.

Lianas; young parts tomentose; glands on young stems and leaves circular. Leaves elliptic, oblong, ovate or obovate, 10 - 24 x 6 - 12 cm, acute or abruptly acuminate at apex; nerves 5 - 8 pairs, prominent beneath, distinctly curved, distant; petioles up to 1.5 cm long; stipules triangular, acuminate. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, repeatedly dichotomously branched, 5 - 7 cm long. Flowers 3 - 4 mm across, bisexual or unisexual. Sepals persistent. Petals caducous, incised more than half, densely pubescent outside, dichotomously nerved. Disk lobed; lobes bifid, glabrous or with a few hairs. Ovary densely pubescent, 2 - 3-locular; styles connate more than half their length; stigma rounded. Fruits pear-shaped or globose to ovoid, velvety-pubescent; pericarp fleshy; seeds 1 - 3.

Fl. & Fr. June - Sept.

Distrib. India: Rare in inland hill forests, up to 100 m, in shaded places. Great Nicobar Island (on banks of Alexandra river as well as between Chingenh and Indira Gandhi Point).

Malesia except Sumatra and Melanesia (New Britain and Solomon Islands).

Uses. Seems to be not used in India. Fruits and young leaves are reported to be eaten and young branches used as rope in Malesia.

Notes. A very variable species with regard to shape, texture and degree of pubescence. Relatively broad leaves which are densely tomentose when young, several-flowered inflorescences and tomentose sutureless fruits make it very distinct from other species. Inflorescence in Indian specimens is smaller than in Malesian ones. Malesian ones stems are sometimes hollow and inhabited by ants.