Phyllanthus section Nothoclema, after revision, includes 10 species that are notable in the genus for their use as “barbascos” (fish poisons). The section is remarkable for its palynological diversity, which provides important diagnostic characters for distinguishing species. Two new species are described, both from Venezuela: P. liesneri from Falcón and Yaracuy; and P. meridensis from Mérida. Although pollen material is lacking for study, both species appear related to congeners with 3-colporate pollen having a vermiculate-reticulate exine. Phyllanthus graveolens is treated as a polytypic species, including P. micrandrus as a subspecies. Two subspecies are recognized within P. brasiliensis, the species most commonly used as a fish-poison; ssp. brasiliensis throughout most of its range includes mostly sterile semidomesticated clones.