Cryptocarya occidentalis van der Werff, nom. nov.

Ξ Ravensara perrieri Dubard & Dop in Bull. Soc. Bot. France 54: 156. 1907 [non Cryptocarya perrieri Danguy in Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. (Paris) 33: 523. 1927. ≡ Aspidostemon perrieri (Danguy) Rohwer].

Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Mahajunga: Ambongo, rives de la Mahavavy, VIII.1904, fl., Perrier de la Bâthie 1789 (holo-: P [P00540958] image seen; iso-: P [P00853 160]!, P [P00540959]) .

Observations.–This species is widespread in the western parts of Madagascar and can be recognized by its glabrous, chartaceous, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate leaves with inconspicuous venation (secondary veins poorly visible). The inflorescences and flowers are minutely brown puberulous. The fruits are ruminate.

DUBARD & DOP (1907) recognized the difficulty of assigning this species to either Cryptocarya or Ravensara because the type was in flower.They went ahead with the description because “Dans tous les cas, l’espèce est nouvelle, quel que soit le genre auquel elle appartient”.

Dubard & Dop cited as type collection Perrier de la Bâthie 1 and as type locality “RiviÈre Mahoudedy supérieure”, while KOSTERMANS (1939) cited Perrier de la Bâthie 1789 and gave as type locality “Mahomavy”. The scan of the holotype shows that the collection number 1789 has been scratched out and replaced with 1. The handwritten type locality seems to be “Mahavavy”, not “Mahoudedy” or “Mahomavy”, but the writing is not entirely clear.

Recent collections seen. – MADAGASCAR. Prov. Antsiranana: Forêt d’Ampasindava, 7.VII.1956, fl., Service Forestier 16517 (MO) ; Beravina, 18.VIII.1955, fl., Service Forestier 15141 (MO); Beravina, 19.VIII.1956, fl., Service Forestier 16355 (MO) . Prov. Mahajanga: Melaky, Maintirano, au N de Belitsaky, le long de la riviÈre de Manomba, 17º52’23’’S 44º28’52’’E, 140 m, 25.X.2009, fr., Andriamihajarivo & al. 1802 (MO) . Prov. Toliara: Beroroha à 4 km avant Antsoa, 21º15’43’’S 45º10’04’’E, 461 m, 3.XII.2010, fr., Andriantiana & al. 1004 (MO) ; Atsimo-Andrefana Region, Makay Massif, along the Menampandaha River, 21º11’57’’S 45º20’15’’E, 510 m, 23.XI.2010, fr., Phillipson & al. 6201 (MO) ; Beroroha, Betorabato, 21º34’04’’S 45º34’34’’E, 296 m, 13.I.2011, fr., Razakamalala 6001 (MO) .