Cryptocarya polyneura (Kosterm.) van der Werff, 2013

van der Werff, Henk, 2013, Nomenclatural notes on Cryptocarya R. Br. (Lauraceae) from Madagascar, Candollea 68 (2), pp. 303-306 : 304

Cryptocarya polyneura (Kosterm.) van der Werff , comb. nova.

Ξ Ravensara polyneura Kosterm. in Bull. Jard. Bot. Etat Bruxelles 28: 188. 1958.

Typus: MADAGASCAR. Prov. Toamasina: Manakambahiny Est, Ambatodrazaka, Zahamena , 28.II.1950, fl., Réserves Naturelles 1936 (holo-: P [ P00540957 ]; iso-: P [ P00540955 , P00540956 , P00853160 ]!, TEF [ TEF000291 ]).

Observations.–The type of Ravensara polyneura is only in bud. Kostermans cited four additional collections, with flowers or fruits, but did not include those in his description. This species has long and narrow,coriaceous leaves, at least three times as long as wide, dark green when dry and with an obtuse to rounded base. Mature leaves are glabrous and the midrib and lateral veins are raised on the lower surface. The inflorescences are short, to 3 cm, densely dark brown pubescent with nearly sessile flowers arranged in dense clusters. The young growth has a similar dark brown pubescence as the flowers and inflorescence, but the twigs become soon glabrous. The fruits are ruminate.

Recent collections all come from the area between Moramanga and the Zahamena reserve at altitudes between 900 and 1160 m.

This species has been confused with Cryptocarya pervillei Baill. , another species with long and narrow leaves. It differs in having a light brown to golden brown indument (not dark brown), less coriaceous leaves with a more persistent indument. I had previously identified Rakotomalaza 1334 and Andriatsiferana & al. 2109 as C. myristicoides Baker , but that species has stiffly chartaceous (not coriaceous) leaves with immersed veins, and longer, less condensed inflorescences. The collection Antilahimena 5915 was previously identified as C. acuminata Merr. (an error for Ravensara acuminata (Meisn.) Baill. = Cryptocarya litoralis van der Werff ), acoastal species also with less coriaceous leaves, brown pubescence (not dark brown) and often conduplicate (rather than flat) leaves. Duplicates may have been distributed under these identifications.

Recent collections seen. – MADAGASCAR. Prov. Toamasina: Phelps Dodge project site, 15 km NE of Moramanga, 18º51’02’’S 48º18’24’’E, 950 m, 13.II.1997, fl., Andriatsiferana & al. 2109 ( MO) ; Moramanga, Andasibe, Ambatovy forest , 18º48’29’’S 48º18’50’’E, 1060 m, fr., Antilahimena & al. 3004 ( MO) ; Moramanga, Andasibe, Menalamba , 18º51’06’’S 48º18’39’’E, 1119 m, 18.XII.2005, fr., Antilahimena & Edmond 4457 ( MO) ; Moramanga, Ambohibary, Ambatovy / Andranovery forest , 18º52’04’’S 48º18’15’’E, 1031 m, 24.X.2007, fr., Antilahimena & Marcellin 5915 ( MO) ; Moramanga, Andasibe: Forêt d’Analamay , 18º50’51’’S 48º19’29’’E, 990 m, 8.VI.2007, fr., Bernard 559 ( MO) ; Route Analamay , 18º49’47’’S 48º18’48’’E, 1160 m, 16.V.1997, y. fr., Rakotomalaza & al. 1334 ( MO) . Réserve forestiÈre Sandrangato , Moramanga, 30.X.1964, fr., Service Forestier 21904 ( MO) ; Périnet, Analamazaotra, Moramanga , 28.IX.1966, fr., Service Forestier 26105 ( MO) .