Manniella is a genus of orchids (family Orchidaceae

Orchidaceae

The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...

) belonging to the subfamily Orchidoideae

Orchidoideae

The Orchidoideae, or the orchidoid orchids, are a subfamily of the orchid family .They typically contain the orchids with a single , fertile anther which is erect and basitonic....

.

It consists of two species: the type species Manniella gustavi Rchb. f. and Manniella cypripedioides

Manniella cypripedioides

Manniella cypripedioides is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. It is found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...

, Salazar & al., both from West Africa

West Africa

West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...

. Because of its phylogenetic position as the sister of Neotropical subtribes Cranichidinae s.l. and Spiranthinae, its subtribal status is justified on evolutionary grounds.

The genus is named after Gustav Mann

Gustav Mann

Gustav Mann was a German botanist who led expeditions in West Africa and was also a gardener at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.Born in Hanover in 1836, he was chosen by William Jackson Hooker, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to take part in William Balfour Baikie's expedition to West...