[1] Species are found naturally occurring in neotropical forests from southern Mexico to Brazil and the Lesser Antilles.

Due to increased deforestation and loss of habitat, several species have declined, some markedly so, and L. caldasiana from Colombia appears to have gone extinct in recent years.

[2] Many species are either rare or restricted in distribution and therefore potentially threatened with future extinction.

In 2016, a new circumscription of Licania was outlined, with over 100 species being placed in other genera such as Moquilea, Leptobalanus, Hymenopus, Microdesmia, Parinariopsis, Geobalanus and Cordillera.

[4][5] Like other members of its family, the genus is known for producing a diverse array of flavonoid compounds.