Herbarium and field studies of the chiefly neotropical genus Capraria have led to the recognition of four species. Capraria frutescens and C. mexicana are essentially endemic to Mexico. Capraria biflora is a widespread species that occurs throughout Mexico, Central and South America, the West Indies, and southern Florida. Capraria peruviana grows in northwestern South America and the Galápagos Islands. A complete account of synonymy and typification is provided, along with a key to species, scanning electron micrographs of pollen, stigmas and seeds, photographs, illustrations, and distribution maps.