Helicia pterygota is a plant in the Proteaceae family. It grows as a shrub or small tree up to 7 metres (20 ft) tall, with a stem diameter of up to 6 centimetres (2 in). The bark is brownish. The specific epithet pterygota is from the Greek meaning "winged", referring to the pedicel. Habitat is forests from 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) to 1,800 metres (6,000 ft) altitude. H. pterygota is endemic to Borneo where it is confined to Mount Kinabalu in Sabah.