Malpighiaceae are an angiosperm family whose species exhibit a pantropical distribution and a rich evolutionary and biogeographic history. Our ongoing phylogenomic investigations in this clade have shed light on evolutionary relationships that necessitate associated taxonomic revisions. One such example involves the genera Sphedamnocarpus Planch. ex. Benth. & Hook.f., and Philgamia Baill., whose species are distributed in Africa and Madagascar. In the current circumscription, Philgamia is entirely confined to Madagascar, while Sphedamnocarpus has a distribution on both the island and the continent. Our investigations reveal a clear split between continental Sphedamnocarpus and the island lineages of both genera, rendering Sphedamnocarpus polyphyletic. Our current work seeks to combine these phylogenomic and biogeographic insights with morphology to redefine these genera. We propose merging the Malagasy Sphedamnocarpus into the genus Philgamia and recognize a much-reduced Sphedamnocarpus whose species are restricted to Africa. Additionally, we present putative morphological synapomorphies to accommodate these readjustments to make these genera monophyletic. Future research will integrate habitat data and deeper phylogenomic explorations to better understand the dynamics of what appears to be a within-island radiation of the newly merged genus Philgamia.