In van Beusekom’s revision M. oldhamii is reduced to the status of M. pinnata subsp. arnottiana (Wight) van Beusekom var. oldhamii (Miq.) van Beusekom, a cumbersome name that might reasonably be shortened to M. pinnata var. oldhamii. Both the subsp. pinnata (the typical subspecies) and subsp. arnottiana are predominantly subtropical in distribution, and the former, though it occurs in the Himalaya, does so only at very low altitudes.
M. pinnata var. oldhamii also occurs in Japan (where it is rare) and in Formosa. A synonym of M. oldhamii, and hence of this variety, is M. rhoifolia Maxim.