Blotiella reducta (C.Chr.) R.M.Tryon was originally described as a small fern from the Guinean Highlands of West Africa, but over time it has become a taxonomically confusing mixture of highland and lowland plants. In this publication we describe a new species, Blotiella confusa Jongkind & W. de Winter, sp. nov. based on most of the lowland material previously identified as B. reducta, and we restrict B. reducta to its original concept. A revised identification key for all African species of the genus is provided.