Dipterocarpus grandiflorus is an emergent tree that can grow up to 45 m tall and 1.5 m in diameter. Trees in the Dipterocarpaceae family are known as “dammar group trees” and like all trees in the dammar group, its stem produces resin. It has leaves which are thick, glabrous (hairless) and leather-like in texture. The leaf also has a long petiole, about 9 cm long and at least 2 mm in diameter. The flower is whitish or yellowish pink and the bud is 3.5 X 1.3 cm in size (Ashton et al., 2004). 

Dipterocarpus grandiflorus also produces winged fruits that are among the largest in the genus. The calyx tube is about 7 X 3.5 cm, with two major wings of about 22 X 3 cm and another three shorter calyx lobes of about 1.5 cm long (Ashton et al., 2004). The dark purple young leaves and twigs with purple pink stipules are among physical characteristics that can be used for identification of this species.

This species has a wide distribution, from the Andaman Islands, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia to Singapore. In Malaysia, this species can be found in almost every state except Sarawak (Ashton et. al, 2004; Chua et al., 2010).