The light red meranti flowers only once every two to five years, with nearly all the light red merantis in a region flowering at the same time (3) (5). The small flowers, which each bear both male and female reproductive parts, open in the evening and are visited by common flower thrips (Thrips and Megalurothrips species), which are attracted to the flower’s strong scent (5). Following flowering and pollination by the thrips, the fruit is produced. The winged fruit is dispersed by the wind, but due to the structure of the wings, they spin fairly quickly to the ground, and are rarely carried more than 50 metres away from the parent tree (3) (5). The light red meranti is said to grow fast for the first twenty years (2), but is does not reach reproductive maturity until an age of 25 (5).
Like all dipterocarp trees, the light red meranti produces an oily aromatic resin, known locally as dammar, which is thought to help protect the tree against attacks by bacteria, fungi and animals. The leaves also contain tannins, a bitter-tasting substance which makes this tree unappealing to any leaf-eating animal such as the orang-utan and proboscis monkey (3).