Licania is a plant genus in the family Chrysobalanaceae. Mainly due to deforestation, several species of these shrubs and smallish trees have declined, some markedly so, and L. caldasiana from Colombia appears to have gone extinct in recent years. Several species are used as ornamental plants. Licania fruit are important food for many animals and can also be eaten by humans. Caterpillars of a possible new taxon of the Astraptes fulgerator cryptic species complex were found on L. arborea but do not seem to eat them regularly.