[2] It is native to Southeast Asia, southern China, the Himalayas, and New Guinea.

[3][4][5] The genus name was inspired by balákat-gúbat ("shoulder-tree"), the Philippine common name for B.

[4] Balakata baccata grows up to 26 meters tall, while B. luzonica can reach 36 metres (118 ft).

These trees have alternately arranged leaves 3.5 to 11 centimetres (1.4 to 4.3 in) long, usually with large basal glands on the undersides.

The undersides are also whitish in color in B. baccata, but not in B. luzonica.