A new section, sect. Standleyi, is described for the genus Lonchocarpus (leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Millettieae), based mainly on previously proposed concepts, but not validly published. Also six new taxa for science: five species, Lonchocarpus martinezii, L. savannicola, L. semideserti, L. stenophyllus, L. tuxtepecensis and a new subspecies L. lanceolatus subsp. calciphilus are described and illustrated. Lonchocarpus pubescens is proposed as an older binomial than L. dipteroneurus and four other names associated previously. To contrast the differences, two keys for the taxa are given, one for the species in Mesoamerica and South America and another for the new section and the sect. Lonchocarpus.
