Lippia lupulina Cham. and Lippia pohliana Schauer are species of Verbenaceae used in folk medicine in the Brazilian Midwest. In order to identify the characteristics with taxonomic value that differentiate these species, the morphoanatomical characterization of the leaves and description of the chemical composition of the essential oils was carried out. The investigation of the anatomical characteristics of each species allowed the identification of different structural characters, related to the types of glandular and non-glandular trichomes, types of stomata, structural organization of the petiole's vascular system and the presence of sclereids in the petiole. Regarding the chemical composition of essential oil, in L. lupulina the main constituents were E-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide and dauca- 5,8-diene, while in L. pohliana, E-caryophyllene was the main constituent, followed by α-humulene and amorpha-4,7(11)-diene. Therefore, the results found have taxonomic value, as they allow the identification of species and help in the knowledge of the genus. And the characters studied contribute to future morphoanatomical, taxonomic and pharmacological studies.