In this study, five species of Cathedra (Olacaceae s. l.) were recognized, four of them endemic to Brazil and one widely distributed, occurring in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela. Cathedra rupestris, a new species described here, is endemic to campos rupestres (Cerrado) in the state of Bahia, and is differentiated from other species of the genus mainly by reticulate bark, length of pedicel in flower (1.5–2.2 mm), length of petals (3–3.5 mm), as well as by the proportion of the hypogynous disk in relation to the fruit, which in this species is limited to the base of the drupe. Regarding informal conservation status, C. bahiensis, C. grandiflora, and C. rubricaulis are suggested as Endangered, while C. acuminata and C. rupestris as Least Concern and Critically Endangered, respectively. Here the genus is reviewed, nomenclatural (one synonymization and two typifications) and geographic distributional updates are provided, in addition to an identification key, descriptions, and illustrations. Emended descriptions are also provided for two species.