It native to tropical Africa, China, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Papuasia, and Australia.

[1] The species are all small trees or shrubs.

[2] The genus was named for William Wright (1735-1819), Scottish physician and botanist, by Robert Brown.

Wrightia antidysenterica has long been known in Indian Ayurvedic tradition, and is called "kuţaja" in Sanskrit.

Plants of the World Online[1] includes: