Vasilis Teodoridis:
Convolvulaceae | Erycibe
8. Erycibe obtusifolia Bentham; Fl. Hongk. 236. 1861.
??? ding gong teng
Erycibe versatilihirta C. Y. Ma.
Lianas woody; 4-20 m; glabrous except for inflorescences. Stems to 5 cm in diam.; branchlets distinctly striate-angular. Petiole 0.8-1.2 cm; leaf blade elliptic or obovate; 6.9-9 X 2.5-4 cm; leathery; base cuneate; apex obtuse; acute; or short acuminate; lateral veins 4-6 pairs; slightly raised abaxially. Inflorescences terminal or axillary; 4-15 cm. Pedicel 4-6 mm. Sepals circular; ca. 3 mm in diam.; ± dull yellow pubescent abaxially with 2-armed hairs; glabrescent. Corolla white; 8-10 mm; lobules broadly elliptic; undulate. Stamens unequal; apex acuminate; filaments ca. as long as anthers. Ovary ellipsoid (drum-shaped); glabrous. Stigma conical; spirally ridged. Fruit red to yellow; ovoid-ellipsoid; 1.4-2 cm.
Dense forests; thickets; streamsides; steep slopes; hilltops; sandy soil; silt; rocky areas; 100-1200 m. C and SE Guangdong; Guangxi; Hainan [Vietnam]
As noted by Hoogland (see above); the specimens from Hong Kong have an obtuse to rounded leaf apex; while those from other parts of China are more variable.
The stem is used medicinally.