Ploiarium alternifolium is a type of shrubs or small trees which belongs to the family Bonnetiaceae. It is commonly known as reriang in Malay or Cicada tree. It usually grows up to 10 m, but it rarely grows to 25 m tall and 10-15 cm diameter, depending on locality. The bark is greyish brown, narrowly but deeply ridged and fissured. The colour of the sapwood is yellowish. The thick leaves are alternate or spirally arranged, and simple. The flowers petals are pink to white with pink margins. The fruits are shaped like oblong-ovoid, measuring 15-20 cm long, 10 mm diameter while the seeds are around 3.5 mm long.

The genus, Ploiarium is derived from a Greek word, ploion meaning boat or canoe, which is referring to the shape of the capsule valves. Meanwhile, the species epithet derived from two Latin words, alternus meaning alternate, and –folium meaning leaf, this is referring to the leaf arrangement.

This plant distributed from Thailand and Cambodia to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. It occurs from lowland, freshwater swamp forest, seashore and up to 1,300 m on mountain tops. It is common in secondary forests and may form pure stands (Hassan, 2010).