There has been some confusion about the identity of the name Chapelieria madagascariensis, due at least in part to confusion over which is the type specimen. Although the name was published by de Candolle, his work was based on a manuscript of the review of Rubiaceae by A. Richard and de Candolle referenced that work, which cited material collected by Chapelier in Madagascar and remarked that these plants looked very similar to species of Apocynaceae. Some specimens at P collected by Chapelier and annotated as types of Chapelieria madagascariensis were later identified by several Apocynaceae taxonomists as Carissa in that other family, variously as Carissa septentrionalis (Pichon) Markgraf and as Carissa spinarum L. when the latter species is circumscribed to include the former name. Chapelieria was described by de Candolle and Richard as having caducous interpetiolar stipules, flowers that are shortly pedicellate in congested groups in the axils of the leaves, and the ovary was not described but presumably found to be inferior. The Carissa species in question have a stipular line or shortly developed deciduous stipules, the flowers borne terminally and in the axils of some of the leaves and subsessile to shortly pedicellate in congested groups, and the ovary superior.

A specimen of the Rubiaceae species of Chapelier's at P was located by Davies & Davis (2014) and designated as the lectotype by them. They also significantly narrowed the circumscription of this species by describing two new Chapelieria species, and they presented a revised description and illustration of Chapelieria madagascariensis as a species of littoral forest found at low elevations along the eastern coast of Madagascar.