Cryptocarya R. Br.

Werff, Henk van der, 2017, The genera of Lauraceae in Madagascar with nomenclatural novelties in Cryptocarya, Candollea 72 (2), pp. 323-328 : 326

Cryptocarya R. Br.

Typus: Cryptocarya glaucescens R. Br.

= Ravensara Sonn. Typus: Ravensara aromatica Sonn. (Ξ Cryptocarya agathophylla van der Werff ).

Diagnostic characters. – Flowers with nine bilocular stamens, ovary included inside a deep receptacle, fruits enclosed by the receptacle with scars of the fallen tepals on top; leaves alternate.

Distribution. – Pantropical.

Number of species in Madagascar. – c. 40 (c. 39 endemic, one shared with the Comoro Islands)

Recent literature. – VAN DER WERFF (2008, 2013a).

Notes. – Cryptocarya is readily recognized by its flowers, with the ovary included in, but not attached to, the receptacle and its fruits, entirely enclosed in the accrescent receptacle. Species previously placed in Cryptocarya with a similar receptacle, but with 3 or 6 stamens and opposite leaves are now recognized as Aspidostemon . The genus Ravensara , formerly treated as endemic to Madagascar, and differing from Cryptocarya only in one fruit character: the presence of septa growing from the receptacle wall in to the fruits and making the fruits appear 6-lobed. Because this character also appeared sparingly in Cryptocarya species outside Madagascar, Ravensara and Cryptocarya are now considered synonyms ( VAN DER WERFF, 1992) and Cryptocarya , although nomenclaturally younger, is conserved over Ravensara ( VAN DER WERFF, 1992; BRUMMIT, 1994). Several species of Cryptocarya have a dense indument consisting of erect, curly hairs entirely covering the lower leaf surface and young twigs. The color of this pubescence varies from brown, reddish brown or dark brown and it wears off on older leaves and twigs. This pubescence seems to be restricted to Cryptocarya in Madagascar. Most species of Lauraceae in Madagascar have elliptic leaves, but among Cryptocarya species oblong leaves are not uncommon. Cryptocarya is in need of a complete taxonomic revision.

Since Ravensara was sunk in synonymy of Cryptocarya , several Ravensara species have been transferred to Cryptocarya ( VAN DER WERFF, 2008, 2013a). Eight species recognized by Kostermans are still in need of a name in Cryptocarya and the necessary nomenclatural changes (five new combinations and three new names) are presented below. A lectotype is designated for Ravensara affinis Kosterm. (Ξ Cryptocarya petiolata van der Werff ).