[1] In 1946 Cyril Tenison White described its first species, Papuodendron lepidotum, which was discovered growing in 1944 in the Mandated Territory of New Guinea.

In 1966, Jan van Borssum Waalkes returned Papuodendron to the Bombacaceae,[8] albeit hesitantly.

[7] In 1972, Wilhelmus Albertus van Heel supported Kostermans's reduction of Papuodendron to Hibiscus on the basis of anatomical studies showing insufficient differences to support Papuodendron being considered a different genus.

[12] The 2000 phylogenetic analysis placing Papuodendron within the Hibisceae did not directly address whether it is a distinct genus.

[10] As of 2022, there is ongoing debate as to whether Papuodendron is a distinct genus from Hibiscus: Plants of the World Online considers them distinct genera, but notes that Maarten J. M. Christenhusz et al. cite Papuodendron as Hibiscus.