Manttelissa

Manttelissa is a genus of flowering plants placed in the fictional family Mantellaceae. In this article, Manttelissa is described as part of a hypothetical flora endemic to the temperate cloud forests of the fictional continent of Auroria. The genus currently includes three described species: Manttelissa alba, Manttelissa rubra, and Manttelissa lutea.

Manttelissa species are small, herbaceous perennials growing to 20–40 cm tall. They have evergreen leaves arranged oppositely or in whorls, with glossy dark green blades and serrate margins. Stems are slender and often reddish at the base. Inflorescences are terminal cymes bearing cup-shaped flowers with five rounded petals. Colors range from white to pale pink.

Flowers bloom in late spring to early summer, and the fruit is a small dry capsule containing several seeds. The plants are pollinated by native bees and hoverflies, with seed dispersal aided by wind and small mammals in the forest understory.

Habitat and distribution: Manttelissa is described as endemic to montane forest habitats at elevations roughly 1,000 to 2,100 meters, in moist, humus-rich soils. The species show a preference for shaded microhabitats with consistent moisture and rich organic matter.

Taxonomy and naming: Manttelissa was first described by the fictional botanist L. K. Ardent in 1986, with Manttelissa alba as the type species. The name is said to derive from a Latin root meaning cloak or mantle, alluding to a leaf arrangement that partially surrounds the stem. In the imagined flora, Manttelissa is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate gardens and educational collections.