A brief discussion of the systematics of Swartzia, a large neotropical genus of trees and shrubs, is given in preparation for a comprehensive phylogenetic and revisionary study of the genus. Two new species from Brazilian Amazonia, Swartzia coriaceifolia and Swartzia juruana, are described and illustrated. The former was collected in the basin of the Rio Negro in the state of Amazonas and possesses morphology allying it with S. brachyrachis and its relatives. Swartzia juruana is known from a single collection from the upper Rio Juruá basin of Acre and is closely related to the more widespread species S. jorori. Morphological characters of the new species are discussed, and a key to the unifoliolate species and varieties of Swartzia is provided.