The new Guettarda species of Oaxaca (Mexico) is related to G. foliacea Standl. of a distribution from Tabasco and Chiapas to Panama, but differs by having long acuminate and falcate leaves with lineolate quaternary nerves on the abaxial surface, inflorescences with very short ovate and glabrous bracteoles and much shorter flowers with 8–9 mm long corolla tube.