A new genus of arborescent violet, Hekkingia, is described from Neotropical lowland rainforest near Cayenne in northeastern French Guiana. Racemose inflorescences, fully fused filaments and rudimentary dorsal connective appendages place the only known species, Hekkingia bordenavei, near the genus Paypayrola, while strongly tuberculate capsules ally it also to Amphirrhox, the two genera comprising the Subtribe Paypayrolinae to which the new genus is tentatively assigned. Hekkingia shares scarcely differentiated corollas with quincuncial aestivation, very large obovate sepals, red to pink capsules and carunculate seeds with few other genera (but not in this combination), whereas its basally cauliflorous habit, very large bracts and pedicel bractlets are unique in the family. A key to genera of the Violaceae provides a context for this French Guianan novelty.