[4] Their range is from India across Southeast Asia, Malesia, Papuasia, and Australasia, to the western Pacific Islands.

In Borneo, many species are recorded in the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak.

[5] The leaves are typically spirally arranged and often clustered near twig ends.

Palaquium habitats are coastal, lowland mixed dipterocarp, swamp, and montane forests.

[5] As of November 2013[update] The Plant List recognises 120 accepted species:[6]