Shorea sumatrana is medium-sized growing up to 30 m high. The bole is a clear length or twisted by having a thin outer bark and dull brown inner bark. It is locally known as sengkawang or balau sengkawang ayer in Malay language. It is distributed from Sumatra, Peninsular Thailand, and Peninsular Malaysia. Hence, the species epithet, sumatrana refers to Sumatra, which was one of the locations where this plant was found (Flora & Fauna Web, 2022). In Peninsular Malaysia, it was recorded in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and in the east coast region (Yong et al., 2021). The species can be found in lowland dipterocarp forests in low-lying, frequently swamp habitats along the river bank and also on land subject to inundation on the banks of slow-flowing rivers (Symington, 2004).

The shape of the fruit is sub-globose. The flower has a weak smell with yellow linear petals and tinged red at the base inside. The leaves are dark green, elliptic-oblong and glaucous below with no hairy domatia in the axils of veins (Wyatt-Smith, 1999). The wood is used for heavy construction such as bridges, railway sleepers, powerline posts, wagons, and fence posts (Flora & Fauna Web, 2022).