De Block (2005) reported that Tarenna sechellensis is known from Madagascar so far from one specimen from Nosi Be, Hildebrandt 2947 which is a syntype of the name Ixora nigrescens Drake. Thus, Tarenna sechellensis is so far known from one locality in Madagascar, but it is found on other islands. De Block concluded however that this species is not found in continental Africa.
De Block (2005: p. 114) discussed in detail the similarities and relationships between Tarenna sechellensis and Tarenna grevei, noting that they differ completely only in the number of ovules per locule and may differ also in reproductive biology. Tarenna sechellensis has reportedly to be at least sometimes consistently hermaphroditic in the Sechelles, but De Block found the plants she studied to be androdioecious with some flowers functionally bisexual and others having empty ovary locules and thus functionally staminate. She concluded that the relationship or status of these two species with respect to each other is not yet entirely clarified.