[2][3] It is native to Africa, southern Asia, Australia, and various islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

[2][5] Plants in this genus are evergreen trees or shrubs, which may be deciduous or semi-deciduous.

Inflorescences are erect or pendulous racemes, either terminal, axillary, or cauliflorus.

The fruit may be obovate, ellipsoid or fusiform, and may be angled or winged.

[6][7] The following is a list of all 72 species of Barringtonia accepted by Plants of the World Online as of June 2024[update]:[1]