Nomenclatural notes on Cryptocarya R. Br. (Lauraceae) from Madagascar Author van der Werff, Henk Missouri Botanical Garden, P. O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO, 63166 - 0299, U. S. A henk.vanderwerff@mobot.org text Candollea 2013 2013-12-01 68 2 303 306 journal article 3418 10.15553/c2012v682a14 017e2143-04a5-43f8-a28a-724562013398 2235-3658 5706291 Cryptocarya spathulata Kosterm. in Bull. Jard. Bot. Etat Bruxelles 27: 185. 1957. Typus : MADAGASCAR . Prov. Toamasina : Analamazaotra , 18.I.1950 , fl., Service Forestier 1476 (holo-: P [ P0085 3164 ]!). = Ravensara laevis Kosterm. in Not. Syst. (Paris) 8: 100. 1939 [non Cryptocarya laevis Mart. in Flora 21: Beibl. 64. 1838]. Typus : MADAGASCAR .Prov. Toamasina : Analamazaotra , 20.VI.1919 , buds, Thouvenot 98 (holo-: P [ P00540973 ]; iso-: P [ P00853163 ]!, P [ P00540974 ]), syn. nov. Observations . – Although C. spathulata is a later heterotypic synonym of Ravensara laevis , it is the earliest available name in Cryptocarya and should be used for this species. The types of both names came from the same locality and both were in flower. Because the sole difference between Cryptocarya and Ravensara is a fruit character, this example illustrates the difficulty of assigning flowering specimens to either Cryptocarya or Ravensara , when these genera were considered distinct.