Compilation
Vahea elastica

A more or less scandent shrub or tree, often very large, with long hook-branched tendrils (usually more or less modified inflorescences); young branches scantily pubescent, soon glabrescent, dark brown to almost black, dotted with small yellowish lenticels. Leaves oblong, rarely elliptic or lanceolate, subacuminate or sometimes distinctly and abruptly acuminate (acumen obtuse), rarely quite obtuse, subobtuse or subacute at the base, 3–6 in. long, 1–2 1/2 (rarely up to 3 1/2) in. broad, coriaceous, quite glabrous or finely pubescent in bud, glossy above; midrib flat or slightly channelled above, prominent below; secondary nerves 10–15 on each side, oblique, slender, connected by strongly curved zig-zag arches rather close to the margin, like the reticulating veins more or less raised; petiole 2–4 lin. long. Panicles pyramidal or ovoid, shortly peduncled, many-flowered, finely fulvo-tomentose (rarely elongate, with distant spreading or recurved branches, the lower acting as tendrils); peduncles 1/2–1 1/2 in. long; bracts broad-ovate, subacute or apiculate, early deciduous, like the very short pedicels finely fulvo-tomentose. Calyx 1–1 1/3 lin. long, finely fulvo-tomentose; segments very broad, ovate to almost rotundate, acute or obtuse. Corolla white, soon turning brownish; tube cylindric, widest between the middle and mouth, 3 lin. long, more or less pubescent or tomentose without, at least in the upper half; lobes oblong, acute, spreading or reflexed, fleshy, 1 1/2–2 1/4 lin. long, rarely longer, pubescent without, mouth finely pubescent. Stamens in the upper third of the tube; anthers oblong, subobtuse. Ovary depressed, truncate, top finely tomentose. Style and stigma 2 lin. long, the latter conical, shortly bifid. Fruit of the shape, size and colour of a middle-sized or small orange, 1–2 1/2 in. in diam., yellow mottled with red, wrinkled; rind woody, 2–2 1/2 lin. thick; seeds 5–6 lin. long.