The specific epithet fraxinea is from the Latin meaning 'ash tree', referring to the leaves' resemblance to those of the genus Fraxinus.

[3] The tree grows in a wide variety of habitats from sea level to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) elevation.

[3] Pterophylla fraxinea ranges from Peninsular Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia through Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Maluku, and the Lesser Sunda Islands to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

It grows from (450–)1000–2065 metres elevation in Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand, 500–2700 m in Sumatra, 600–2400 m in Java, (0-)500–1970 m in Borneo, 500–1500+ m in the Lesser Sunda Islands, 10–1450(–2250) m in New Guinea, and 10–620 m in the Solomons.

[4] In western Malesia it is a locally-common small tree in primary and secondary hill forests above about 500 metres elevation, often on ridges and slopes below ridge tops.