[1] Most of the species can be found in the Amazon Basin and the Guyana Highlands.

They have a deep-green fernlike foliage, with bipinnately compound leaves.

As a result of the genetic evidence, the genera Jupunba and Punjuba were separated from Abarema.

In older works, the entire genus is usually included within Pithecellobium.

[3] Plants of the World Online currently accepts only four species, Abarema cochliacarpos, A. diamantina, A. levelii, and A. maestrensis.