Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews
Commercial Vanilla, Flat Leaved Vanilla
Facts About
Accepted Synonyms: Epidendrum rubrum, Notylia planifolia
Vanilla planifolia, Commercial Vanilla, is native to Mexico, Central America and the West Indies and is the primary source for vanilla flavoring. This orchid has been cultivated for centuries and escaped or naturalized in many areas of the tropics, including south Florida. Vines can exceed 30 m in length with roots and one oblong leaf per node. The inflorescence develops laterally from the leaf axil with short-lived yellowish green flowers lasting less than a day. The tubular lip is striped yellow and deeply fringed at the apex. This orchid may have been introduced into southern Florida through Indian bartering in pre-Columbian times and can be found growing on trees in cypress swamps and hammocks.
The conservation status for Vanilla planifolia has not been reported and this orchid is widely cultivated in Madagascar, Mexico, Tahiti and Indonesia.
Pollination
This orchid is pollinated by several species of bees including Euglossa viridissima, Eulaema cingulata, Eulaema polychroma, Eulaema meriana and Melipona beecheii.
Ecosystem Type
Swamps
Characteristics
- Habitat:
- epiphyte
- Leaf arrangement:
-
- alternate
- stem
- Number of leaves on stem:
- seven or more
- Form of the labellum:
- the labellum is not pouch-like
- Labellum outline:
- the labellum is fringed
- Main color of labellum:
-
- green to brown
- yellow
- Nectar spur:
- absent
- Inflorescence type:
- the inflorescence is a raceme
- Labellum characteristics:
-
- the labellum is fringed
- the labellum is lobed
- Labellum length:
- Up to 40 mm
- Sepal length:
- 35–55 mm
-
Flowers
- Floral bract length:
- Up to 7 mm
- Flower petal color:
-
- green
- yellow
- Flower symmetry:
- the flower is zygomorphic
- Flowering date:
- April
- Flowers per inflorescence:
- Up to 15
- Form of the labellum:
- the labellum is not pouch-like
- Inflorescence type:
- the inflorescence is a raceme
- Labellum characteristics:
-
- the labellum is fringed
- the labellum is lobed
- Labellum length:
- Up to 40 mm
- Labellum outline:
- the labellum is fringed
- Labellum position:
- the flowers are resupinate
- Lower petal strongly red-veined:
- no
- Main color of labellum:
-
- green to brown
- yellow
- Nectar spur:
- absent
- Number of stamens:
- 1
- Orientation of side petals:
-
- the lateral petals are erect
- the lateral petals are spreading
- Self-pollinating flowers:
- there are no cleistogamous flowers
- Sepal length:
- 35–55 mm
- Sepals fused only to sepals:
- the sepals are separate from one another
- Spots on labellum:
- no
-
Fruits or seeds
- Fruit length:
- 150–250 mm
- Fruit width:
- Up to 8 mm
- Seed capsule orientation:
- the capsule bends downwards
-
Growth form
- Epiphyte form:
- vine
- Roots:
- the rhizomes are non-coralloid
- Underground organs:
- slender roots
- Vine leaves:
- leaves remain on the vine
- Vine node spacing:
- Leaves are longer than the distance between nodes
- myco-heterotrophic or not:
- the plant is chlorophyllous
-
Leaves
- Leaf arrangement:
-
- alternate
- stem
- Leaf blade edges:
- the leaf edges are entire
- Leaf blade length:
- 150–250 mm
- Leaf blade shape:
-
- elliptic
- oblong
- ovate
- Leaf blade tip:
-
- the tip of the leaf blade is acuminate
- the tip of the leaf blade is acute
- Leaf blade width:
- 50–80 mm
- Leaves during flowering:
- leaves are present during flowering
- Number of leaves on stem:
- seven or more
-
Place
- Ecosystem type:
- swamps
- Habitat:
- epiphyte
- Location:
- Florida
-
Facts and Uses
- Mycorrhiza
- Monitoring
- Propagation
- Restoration
Native to North America
No
North American Conservation Status & Distribution
Conservation Status
Conservation and Wetland Status | |
---|---|
Global Rank | N/A |
US Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: Florida | |
---|---|
Global Rank | N/A |
US Status | N/A |
Florida Rank | N/A |
Florida Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | N/A |
Wetland Status | N/A |