Kuwahara (1984) synonymized Metzgeria madagassa Steph. and Metzgeria thomeensis Steph. under the name Metzgeria australis Steph. So (2004) rejected this synonymy and recognized Metzgeria madagassa from Africa (excluding the syntype from Sikkim) with Metzgeria warnstorffii Steph., Metzgeria camerunensis Steph. and Metzgeria limbatosetosa Steph. as synonyms. Her treatment has generally been followed by subsequent authors of African Metzgeria. However, she overlooked the fact that Metzgeria warnstorffii is the oldest valid name.