This species is characterized by its leaves with the distinctive venation of Sect. Tricephalium, its rounded stipules, its capitate inflorescences that are pedunculate and enclosed by two rounded involucral bracts, its short calyx limbs, and its somewhat large fruits. The bracts have a clamshell arrangement, and apparently are partially fused initially then split as the fruits develop. Palicourea greeneana is not well known.

Palicourea greeneana is very similar to Palicourea zevallosii of the western Amazon basin.This species was transferred by Taylor into Palicourea under the superfluous name Palicourea perinsignis, but is correctly called Palicourea greeneana.