pilosa (Cogn.) Hoehne 
Salehi Pabst = Lankesterella caespitosa (Lindl.) Hoehne 
Spannageliana (Hoehne & Brade) Manst. 
Limodorum L.C. Rich. 
lanceolatum Aubl. = Sacoila lanceolata (Aubl.) Garay 
praecox Walt. = Spiranthes praecox (Walt.) Wats. 
Lyroglossa Schltr. in Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 37(2): 448, 1920. 
Etymology: Lyra = lyre and glossa = tongue, describing the 
shape of the lip characteristic for all species. 
Sepals subsimilar, from a subparallel base, divergent; dorsal 
sepal ovate-lanceolate, deeply concave, lateral sepals spreading 
with more or less reflexed apex, basally decurrent on short 
column-foot, without forming a true mentum. Petals variable, 
the internal margins firmly agglutinate with dorsal sepal, with an 
oblique, non-decurrent base. Lip membranaccous, panduriform, 
subsessile, with a very short claw, the margins of which linear, 
callose-thickened; the margins of the blade above base aggluti- 
nate with column on both sides. Column short, dilated above, 
sulcate and pubescent in front, basally produced in a short foot 
of same length; stigmata 2, terminal, approximate, touching 
each other in the middle, more or less cleft by median furrow in 
front of column; rostellum rigid, acuminate. Anther ovate- 
cucullate, acute; pollinia clavate with a small, narrowly oblong 
viscidium. Ovary subsessile, arcuately fusiform to cylindric, 
more or less lightly twisted. 
Terrestrial, small plants, commonly aphyllous during anthe- 
sis. Roots fleshy, fusiform-tuberous, pubescent. Leaves when 
present small, basal, few. Stem slender, erect, remotely many- 
sheathed, terminated by a rather loosely, several-flowered, more 
or less spirally twisted spike. Flowers small. 
Lectotype: Spiranthes Grisebachii Cogn. [Angely, Fl. Analit. 
S. Paulo 6:1277, 1973] 
Three species native to Mexico, Trinidad, Venezuela, Bolivia 
and Brazil. 
332 
