Recent collecting efforts in Madagascar's eastern littoral forest have yielded a new species, Ludia craggiana Z. S. Rogers, Randrianasolo & J. S. Miller (Salicaceae), which is apparently endemic to two sandy forest fragments located near Vohémar in northeastern Madagascar. This species is most similar to L. ludiifolia (H. Perrier) Capuron & Sleumer, but can be distinguished by its more robust young stems and spines, glabrous or rarely puberulent twigs, petioles, midribs, and pedicels, coriaceous leaves with midveins and secondary venation of similar thickness, 50 to 60 stamens with emarginate anther connectives, and by the minutely granular-papillose fruit surface. Ludia craggiana is illustrated and assigned a provisional conservation status of endangered.