Timber segments collected from 15 logged stumps in Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia, found that "E. zwageri" can live more than 1000 years and that the growth rate of this species is very slow, with a mean radial growth rate of 0·058 cm y-1. The cutting of old trees of "E. zwageri" results in the species being replaced by faster growing species. The long life span and reduced growth rate of this species may be a result of its dense and durable wood containing abundant defensive compounds.