A taxonomic synopsis ofVirola(Myristicaceae) is presented for Mesoamerica. Fourteen species are recognised, amongst them six are described and published as new, based on morphology:V. alleniiD.Santam. & Aguilar,sp. nov.from Costa Rica,V. otobifoliaD.Santam.,sp. nov.from Panama andV. amistadensisD.Santam.,sp. nov.,V. chrysocarpaD.Santam. & Aguilar,sp. nov.,V. fosteriD.Santam.,sp. nov.andV. montanaD.Santam.,sp. nov.from both Costa Rica and Panama. Additionally, a lectotype is designated forV. koschnyi, accompanied by an epitype in view of the fragmentary material. Finally, we recogniseV. laevigataandV. nobilisas morphologically distinct species, though these are frequently considered synonymys ofV. guatemalensisandV. surinamensis, respectively. Of the fourteen accepted species, twelve of them are endemic to Mesoamerica, while the remaining two species (V. elongataandV. sebifera) extend into South America. Illustrations, species diagnoses and distribution maps for each species are provided, as is an identification key to all species.