Endemic to NEQ, widespread in the area. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1150 m. Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites but is probably more common in upland and mountain rain forests and probably reaches its best development on soils derived from basalt.

A family of nine genera and about 30 species, pantropic; two genera occur naturally in Australia.

Cansjera - A genus of three species in Asia, Malesia and Australia; one species occurs naturally in Australia. Hiepko (1984a, 1984b).

Opilia - A genus of two species in Africa, Asia, Malesia, Australia and the Solomon Islands; one species occurs naturally in Australia. Hiepko (1984a, 1984b).

Hiepko, P. (1984a). Opiliaceae. In 'Flora of Australia.' Vol. 22, (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra.), pp. 27-29.

Hiepko, P. (1984b). Opiliaceae. In 'Flora Malesiana.' Ser. 1, Vol. 10, (Martinus Nijhoff Publishers: The Hague.), pp. 31-52.