Technical Abstract: Griffinia leucantha and G. cordata, distinct from any other known species of the genus, are described as new from nineteenth century herbarium specimens. Both belong to subg. Griffinia. These Brazilian species lack blue range pigments in the flowers, a characteristic of Griffinia subg. Hyline, but share the derived characters (e.g. several flowers per scape, few ovules per locule, 5 +1 staminal arrangement) of Griffinia subg. Griffinia. Both G. cordata and G. leucantha have stout scapes and white flowers; however, the perianth is epiperigynous in G. cordata and epigynous in G. leucantha. In stature, G. cordata is intermediate between G. alba, another white-flowered species, and G. leucantha, but unlike those species it has strikingly cordate leaves.