[6] The tree branches are coffee-coloured, with numerous whitish lenticules (lens-shaped, porous tissue).

[6][7] The apex of the leaf is narrowly acuminate (tapering gradually to a point),[6] while the base is cuneate (wedge-shaped) to rounded.

While, the lower surface is off-white in colour, and densely covered with appressed (pressed closely but not fused) stellate hairs.

The remainder of the petal is pappillose (has many small fleshy projections), and is scattered with long stellate hairs.

[7][9] It is surmounted by a villous urceolus (flask-shaped body) which is about 2 mm in diameter, which surrounds the base of the stamens.

[8] Each samara is oblong in contour, widely winged around a more or less globular and dark, thicker,[6] central portion,[7] which has an irregular transverse crest.

[12] The Latin specific epithet of meiantha is derived from refers to the Greek word meion meaning less, smaller or lesser,[13] and also anther (the pollen-bearing part of a stamen) The genus was first described and published in Repert.

It was then placed within the family of Malvaceae alongside Luehea Willd.. DNA sequencing then further narrowed down its origin and placed it among the grewioids".

[7] Goethalsia meiantha of the most common trees in the Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica region and it also grows in La Selva Biological Station.

[17] It is found growing in clay-like soils,[8] in moist to very wet lowland in open sites.

[6] The tree grows at elevations from 0–900 m (0–2,953 ft) in areas where annual rainfall is about 4000 mm and the average temperature is 26°C.

[8][6] It has low to moderate timber value,[7][14] The wood is white when green, it is classified as light (with a specific gravity is 0.35) and soft,[7] and it also dries quickly without the appearance of major defects.

[8] It is deemed easy to work and preserve, and it can be finished well, but it has a low resistance to biodegrading organisms (i.e. woodworm, etc.).

It is often used for making fenceposts, handles for light tools, boxes, cases, broomsticks and roof boards and in interior and external construction.

[8] The species ranks second in demand in the match industry (within South America), because it is very abundant and grows fast.

[19] Nymphs of Cicada species of Zammara smaragdina burrow into the earth beside the roots of the tree.