[1] August Wilhelm Henschel the German physician and botanist who first formally described the species, using the basionym Guatteria rumphii, named it after the German botanist Georg Eberhard Rumphius who cataloged many plant species in Indonesia.

Its young branches are covered in fine rust colored hairs but become hairless when mature.

Its hairless, slightly leathery, oblong to lance-shaped leaves are 10-22 by 3.5-7.5 centimeters with pointed tips and bases.

The medial bract is covered in rust-colored hairs and has edges that curve backwards.

The sepals have pointed tips and are covered in rust colored fine hairs.