pollinia obovate-clavate with a small, round viscidium. Ovary 
cylindric, sessile, slightly twisted. 
Terrestrial, tall plants. Roots fasciculate, rather slender, vil- 
lose. Leaves basal, distichous, petiolate with imbricating vagi- 
nate base. Stem erect, remotely several bracteolate which 
decreases upwards in size, terminated by a long loosely many- 
flowered spike. Flowers small. 
TYPE: Manniella Gustavi Rchb.f. 
One species native to western tropical Africa. 
Index to species 
americana C. Schweinf. & Garay = Helonoma americana (C. Schweinf. 
& Garay) Garay 
Gustavi Rchb.f. 
hongkongensis Hu & Barretto = Pelexia obliqua (J.J.Sm.) Garay 
Mesadenella Pabst & Garay in Arquiv. Jard. Bot. Rio 12: 205, 
1952. 
Etymology: Mesadenus = a genus of orchids and -e/la =a 
diminutive suffix, suggestive of systematic posi- 
tion in Schlecter’s classification of the subtribe 
Spiranthinae. 
Sepals free, dissimilar, subparallel, somewhat diverging to- 
wards apex; lateral sepals obliquely decurrent on column-foot 
forming an obtuse mentum. Petals connivent with dorsal sepal, 
inner margins agglutinate with dorsal sepal, but apices free. Lip 
with a distinct claw, saggitate at base; blade conduplicate. 
Column short, puberulent in front, basally extended into a dec- 
urrent, incurved foot, together with lateral sepals forming a dis- 
tinct mentum; stigmata 2, anterior, approximate, touching each 
other in middle; rostellum rigid, more or less cartilaginous, 
linear-subulate, acuminate. Anther entire, concave; pollinia cla- 
vate. Anther ovate-lanceolate, acute to subacuminate; pollinia 
clavate with small, roundish viscidium. Ovary sessile, barely 
twisted. 
Terrestrial plants, very variable in size with fasciculate, fleshy, 
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