Locally known as Cempaka in Malay, Magnolia champaca is a species of the flowering plant mainly distributed from South India to Central China and the Lesser Sunda Islands. This medium-sized to a big tree can grow up to 30-50 m tall with the bole diameter at around 190 cm. It has smooth, grey-brown bark with a cylindrical or conical crown. The elliptic to ovate leaves are arranged spirally with petiole measuring around 14-35 mm long. Each leaf has an acuminate shape at the apex with the acumen measuring around 7-13 mm long.  It has a fragrant flower with cylindrical shaped fruit grouped together like a bunch of woody grapes (Nooteboom, 2012).

The varieties of Magnolia champaca include M. c. var. champaca and M. c. var. pubinervia. The M. c. var. champaca is widely cultivated due to its scented flowers (Burkill, 1966) and often planted in Malay graveyards in Peninsular Malaysia. Meanwhile, the M. c. var. pubinervia has been recorded in the northern Peninsular Malaysia where it is known to inhabit the primary forest at 800 m altitudes (Nooteboom, 2012).