[2] They are: (See infoboxes, left lower) The two areas where the greatest variation in A. lawii occurs are Mainland Southeast Asia and Borneo.

This taxa was originally described in 1846 as Nimmola lawii by the Scottish surgeon and botanist Robert Wight (1796-1872), who worked in southern India.

It is different to the closely related A. beccarii by: having an indumentum that is of peltate scales only; terete rachis that is not winged; when the seeds are dry the pericarp is not moulded around them.

[2] Countries and regions in which it is found are: Philippines; Indonesia (Kalimantan); Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia); Thailand; Cambodia; Vietnam; Zhōngguó/China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan);[12] Taiwan; Laos; Myanmar; India (including Nicobar Islands, Andaman Islands); East Himalaya; southeast Tibet; Bhutan.

[4] The tree occurs in evergreen and miced deciduous forests in Thailand, near streams on soils derived from granite, sandstone or limestone bedrock.

The taxa was rejected as a "framework tree species" by researchers in working on dry forests in Thailand.

The tree was rejected as it had only a moderate survival rate after planting, a low crown size and did not have a substantial effect on weeds.

[3] The seeds are eaten and dispersed a range of birds, as small as Pycnonotidae (bulbuls) to Corvidae (magpies) and Bucerotidae (hornbills).

In the oldest National Park of Thailand, Khao Yai National Park (central Thailand), the fruits of the species are eaten by a range of birds and a mammal: Ducula badia (mountain imperial pigeon); Anthracoceros albirostris (oriental pied hornbill); Megalaima incognita (moustached barbet); Ampeliceps coronatus (golden-crested myna); Gracula religiosa (hill myna); and Callosciurus finlaysonii (variable squirrel).

[17] Leaves of the plant are eaten by Pygathrix cinerea (grey-shanked douc langurs) in Kon Ka Kinh National Park, central Vietnam.

They base this on the tree being widespread and locally common, but that the population is severely fragmented, has a continuing declines in the number of mature individuals and the area, extent and/or quality of habitat.

[20] Amongst Kuy- and Khmer-speaking people living in the same villages in Stung Treng and Preah Vihear Provinces of north-central Cambodia, the tree is used as a source of medicine and food.

[21] The leaves of A. lawii are made as a decoction to treat headaches and as a tonic by Karen people in the Mae Chaem District, Thailand [19] Lawa people, living alongside the Karen villagers, do not use the taxa as an ethnomedicinal plant, which indicates that cultural history and background are more important factors in ethnopharmacology than geographic area.