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PycnandraBenth. is a member of the pantropical family Sapotaceae (Chrysophylloideae) and the Niemeyeracomplex, a group that is found in Australia and New Caledonia. Generic limits in the complex have been problematic and Pycnandrais here given a circumscription to include the entire clade that is restricted to New Caledonia. Several lineages are therefore relegated to the subgeneric level that will subsequently be revised. In a first step, we revise P. subgenus Pycnandrawith 12 recognised species, of which seven (P. atrofusca, P. cylindricarpa, P. glaberrima, P. linearifolia, P. longipetiolata, P. paucinerviaand P. viridiflora) are described as new. Subgenus Pycnandrais endemic to Grande Terre, the main island of New Caledonia. The members grow in a wide range of habitats from dry maquis vegetation to moist humid forest, from sea level to the higher massif, and on ultramafic soils to schist and greywacke. Diagnostic characters for Pycnandrainclude absence of staminodes, a single-seeded fruit, plano-convex cotyledons and lack of endosperm. A glabrous ovary is a useful character distinguishing P. subgenus Pycnandrafrom the congeners, although there are two exceptions. P. viridiflorais included in the subgenus even though it has a pubescent ovary and Ochrothallus wagapensisis excluded despite a glabrous ovary. Because of past and present mining and logging activities in New Caledonia, conservation assessments are urgently needed. Preliminary IUCN Red List assessments are here provided for all members of the subgenus Pycnandra. Three species (P. longipetiolata, P. paniensisand P. paucinervia) are proposed the IUCN status Endangeredand another (P. viridiflora) is proposed to be Critically Endangered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]