This species is characterized by relatively long, generally narrowly elliptic leaves; stipules with a laminar medial appendage; lax, cymose, relatively long inflorescences with well-developed peduncles, regularly developed bracts, principal axes that are usually arranged in verticils of three, and axes of all orders that are spreading to reflexed; rather small corollas; ellipsoid white fruits; and pyrenes with three or four rounded abaxial ridges.

Notopleura divaricata is similar to Notopleura tolimensis.