This species is characterized by thin-textured medium-sized leaves and terminal cymose inflorescences with several small heads and well developed corollas. This name has been treated as a synonym of Appunia tenuiflora by Razafimandimbison & Bremer (2011), but that work was a general synopsis aimed at separating Appunia from Morinda and did not include detailed study of species identities. Appunia longiloba does need review as to its identity in comparison with Appunia tenuiflora and Appunia surinamensis, which it is hoped will be presented when the decades-long Rubiaceae of the Guianas project finally publishes its treatment.