The taxonomic history of the New Caledonian members of "Polyscias" subgenus Arthrophyllum is complex. Ten valid species names and a nomen nudum have been published in "Arthrophyllum" for this group. Philipson recognized only three species, treating eight of the species names as synonyms for "Arthrophyllum otopyrenum". Frodin and Govaerts treated five of these eight names as a fourth species, "Arthrophyllum balansae". Lowry and Plunkett (2010) split "Arthrophyllum balansae", transferring four of these names to "Polyscias" as part of "Polyscias vieillardii". The fifth name, "Arthrophyllum grandifolium", was transferred to "Polyscias" as "Polyscias mackeei".