Ctenolophonaceae is a monogeric family, with only one genus, Ctenolophon. Ctenolophon is the made up of two Greek words, ctenos and lophorus, which both imply means crested arillode. There are two species belong to this genus but only one species can be found in Peninsular Malaysia, which is Ctenolophon parvifolius. The species name, parvifolius is the combination of two Latin words, parvus and folium, meaning small leaves.

Ctenolophon parvifolius is known as Mertas in Malay. The tree ranges in size from small to big, with steep and spreading buttresses. The bark is easily recognized by its reddish brown colour, with a cracked and scaly surfaces and lenticellate look. The innerbark is a fibrous reddish-brown to pink with clear brownish exudates. The sepal of the flower is dark yellow to green with grey stellate hairs, and the petals are cream tinge pink. The fruits are ellipsoid capsule which turn pink or green with a pink tip when matured.

This species can be found throughout Peninsular Malaysia except in Perlis. It grows in primary lowland mixed dipterocarp forest on ridges and hill slopes, at an elevation between 850 to 1,650 meter, and in seasonal swamp.