Phanera vahlii is a perennial creeper of the family Fabaceae native to the Indian subcontinent. It can grow as much as fifty feet (15 meters) a year. The two-lobed leaves are up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) in length, and almost as wide. The stems and petioles are covered with reddish hair (trichomes).[1]
The roasted seeds of this woody climber are edible.[2]
Phanera species have 2–3 fertile stamens.[3]
Phanera vahlii is found from Sikkim and Nepal across India and Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, Pakistan.
In Hindi, it is called मालू malu, but also mahul, jallaur and jallur. In Nepali it is called भोर्ला . In Odia, it is called ସିଆଳି Siali, இலை மந்தாரை in Tamil, and Rúṅ in Ho.[4] In Telugu, it is called అడ్డాకు. In Lepcha it is called bor laa rik, "a gigantic climber found in lower and middle hill forest up to 4,000 ft, seeds and leaves have medicinal properties for impotency".[5]