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Accession Data:

Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews

  • Common Name: Vanilla Orchid
  • Family: Orchidaceae Juss.

  • Country of Origin: Mexico to Colombia
  • Habitat: large epiphytic climbing orchid

  • Description: [Syn. Vanilla fragrans]

    This leafy climbing orchid is from hot, wet tropical America. The flowers are hand pollinated. Propagated generally by cutting.

    The vanilla flower is self-fertile, but incapable of self-pollination without the aid of an outside agency to either transfer the pollen from the anther to the stigma or to lift the flap or rostellum then press the anther against the stigma. The only time this can be accomplished is during the morning of the one day the flower is open. Unless pollination occurs, the flower drops from the vine the next day.

  • Uses: The vanilla orchid is grown for its seed pods that are harvested and go through an extensive drying and curing process to create commercial vanilla. Without this drying and curing the green seed pods do not contain a potent vanilla flavor. The drying process creates vanillin crystals and turns the pods from green to black.

    In traditional Mexican medicine Vanilla was used to treat hysteria, fevers, impotence, rheumatism, and to increase the energy of muscular systems.1

  • Culture: Keep plant in intermediate to warm temperatures in shade. Plant is grown in shade and require a lots of space for climbing. Plant can be mounted or grown in bark. Plant prefers dryouts between waterings. 4
  • USDA Zone: 10a-11

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 201100222
  • Source: Lisa Palmer - Dartmouth College
  • Accession Date: 07-06-2011
  • Bench: 3228 - ORCH: NE Corner - Vanilla
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 1 confirmed on 12-06-2022

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Liliopsida
  • SubClass: monocots
  • Order: Asparagales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Orchidaceae
  • SubFamily: Vanilloideae
  • Tribe: Vanilleae
  • SubTribe:

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017

References (internal):

  • Spice Plants
  • Plants with Extrafloral Nectaries
  • Pollination Syndrome Scavenger Hunt
  • Currently Featured Orchids
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Mexico Gulf / Mexico Southwest / Mexico Southeast / Belize / Costa Rica / El Salvador / Guatemala / Honduras / Nicaragua / Colombia /

References (external):

  1. Medicinal orchids and their uses: Tissue culture a potential alternative for conservation. Bijaya Pant. African Journal of Plant Science. Vol. 7(10), pp. 448-467, October 2013.
  2. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 26 February 2015.
  3. WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed 26 February 2015.
  4. Vanilla planifolia at Orchids Wiki. Accessed 23 May 2015.
  5. Image #00 (cropped) & #01 (original) by Averater (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons. Last accessed on Thursday, October 26, 2017.

data regenerated on Tue, 21 Feb 2023 13:05:42 -0500 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

Vanilla planifolia

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Orchidaceae

Subfamily Cypripedioideae
Tribe Cypripedieae

  • Paphiopedilinae: Paphiopedilum Delrosi
  • Paphiopedilinae: Paphiopedilum x harrisianum
  • Paphiopedilinae: Paphiopedilum haynaldianum

Subfamily Cypripedioideae
Tribe Phragmipedieae

  • Phragmipediinae: Phragmipedium calurum
  • Phragmipediinae: Phragmipedium x demetria
  • Phragmipediinae: Phragmipedium x dominianum
  • Phragmipediinae: Phragmipedium Lemoinierianum
  • Phragmipediinae: Phragmipedium longifolium
  • Phragmipediinae: Phragmipedium Schroederae

Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Arethuseae

  • Bletiinae: Bletilla striata
  • Chysinae: Chysis bractescens
  • Sobraliinae: Sobralia decora x leucantha

Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Coelogyneae

  • Coelogyninae: Coelogyne flaccida
  • Coelogyninae: Coelogyne lawrenceana
  • Coelogyninae: Coelogyne mayeriana
  • Coelogyninae: Coelogyne ovalis
  • Coelogyninae: Coelogyne pandurata
  • Coelogyninae: Coelogyne rochussenii
  • Coelogyninae: Coelogyne speciosa
  • Coelogyninae: Coelogyne tomentosa
  • Coelogyninae: Coelogyne usitana
  • Coelogyninae: Dendrochilum cobbianum
  • Coelogyninae: Dendrochilum convallariiforme
  • Coelogyninae: Dendrochilum convallariiforme
  • Coelogyninae: Dendrochilum glaucum
  • Coelogyninae: Dendrochilum magnum
  • Coelogyninae: Dendrochilum uncatum
  • Coelogyninae: Dendrochilum wenzelii
  • Coelogyninae: Pholidota imbricata
  • Thuniinae: Thunia alba

Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Collabieae

  • Phaius tankervilleae var. alba

Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Cymbidieae

  • Cymbidiinae: Ansellia africana
  • Cymbidiinae: Cymbidium aloifolium
  • Cymbidiinae: Cymbidium dayanum 'Bolin'
  • Cymbidiinae: Cymbidium finlaysonianum
  • Cymbidiinae: Cymbidium sp.
  • Cymbidiinae: Thecostele alata
  • Eulophiinae: Eulophia andamanensis
  • Eulophiinae: Eulophia petersii
  • Lycastinae: Xylobium variegatum
  • Maxillariinae: Bifrenaria inodora
  • Maxillariinae: Brasiliorchis schunkeana
  • Maxillariinae: Lycaste macrophylla 'Hermarl'
  • Maxillariinae: Maxillaria parahybunensis
  • Maxillariinae: Maxillariella elatior
  • Maxillariinae: Maxillariella houtteana
  • Maxillariinae: Maxillariella sanguinea
  • Maxillariinae: Maxillariella tenuifolia
  • Maxillariinae: Maxillariella variabilis
  • Maxillariinae: Mormolyca hedwigiae
  • Maxillariinae: Mormolyca ringens
  • Maxillariinae: Mormolyca rufescens
  • Maxillariinae: Ornithidium sophronitis
  • Maxillariinae: Trigonidium egertonianum
  • Oncidiinae: Brassia jipijapensis
  • Oncidiinae: Brassia maculata majus
  • Oncidiinae: Brassia verrucosa
  • Oncidiinae: Cuitlauzina pulchella
  • Oncidiinae: Lockhartia lunifera
  • Oncidiinae: Lockhartia oerstedii
  • Oncidiinae: Lockhartia oerstedii
  • Oncidiinae: Miltonia clowesii
  • Oncidiinae: Miltonia flavescens
  • Oncidiinae: Oncidium altissimum
  • Oncidiinae: Oncidium maculatum
  • Oncidiinae: Oncidium Sharry Baby Sweet Fragrance
  • Oncidiinae: Oncidium sphacelatum
  • Oncidiinae: Oncidium tigrinum
  • Oncidiinae: Oncidium unidentified
  • Stanhopeinae: Gongora cassidea
  • Stanhopeinae: Gongora histrionica
  • Stanhopeinae: Gongora quinquenervis var uncinata
  • Stanhopeinae: Gongora rufescens
  • Stanhopeinae: Gongora scaphephorus
  • Stanhopeinae: Stanhopea assidensis (tigrina x wardii)
  • Stanhopeinae: Stanhopea costaricensis
  • Stanhopeinae: Stanhopea ecornuta
  • Stanhopeinae: Stanhopea graveolens
  • Stanhopeinae: Stanhopea jenischiana
  • Stanhopeinae: Stanhopea marizana
  • Stanhopeinae: Stanhopea oculata
  • Stanhopeinae: Stanhopea platyceras
  • Stanhopeinae: Stanhopea tigrina
  • Stanhopeinae: Stanhopea tigrina var. nigroviolacea
  • Stanhopeinae: Stanhopea tigrina x wardii
  • Stanhopeinae: Stanhopea wardii
  • Telipogoninae: Trichoceros antennifer
  • Zygopetalinae: Pescatoria wallisii
  • Zygopetalinae: Zygopetalum maculatum

Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Dendrobieae

  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum affine
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum affine
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum annamense
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum careyanum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum cheiri
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum corolliferum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum elegantulum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum falcatum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum flabellum-veneris
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum flabellum-veneris
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum flammuliferum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum fletcherianum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum gibbosum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum gibbosum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum grandiflorum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum lasiochilum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum lilacinum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum lobbii
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum longiflorum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum longissimum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum medusae
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum morotaiense
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum picturatum
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum purpureorhachis
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum roxburghii
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum roxburghii
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum roxburghii
  • Bulbophyllinae: Bulbophyllum sandersonii
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium anceps
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium anosmum
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium aphyllum
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium bifalce
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium bigibbum
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium chrysotropis
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium x delicatum
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium densiflorum
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium farmeri
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium hymenanthum
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium jenkinsii
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium kingianum
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium lindleyi
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium lindleyi
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium moniliforme
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium nakaharae
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium plicatile
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium rigidum
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium speciosum var. hillii
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium speciosum var. pedunculatum
  • Dendrobiinae: Dendrobium wassellii

Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Epidendreae

  • Glomerinae: Agrostophyllum planicaule
  • Laeliinae: Barkeria melanocaulon
  • Laeliinae: Brassavola cucullata
  • Laeliinae: Brassavola nodosa
  • Laeliinae: Brassocattleya 'Star Ruby Xanadu'
  • Laeliinae: Cattleya cernua
  • Laeliinae: Cattleya purpurata
  • Laeliinae: Cattleya trianae
  • Laeliinae: Dinema polybulbon
  • Laeliinae: Encyclia advena
  • Laeliinae: Encyclia ambigua
  • Laeliinae: Encyclia kennedyi
  • Laeliinae: Epidendrum nocturnum
  • Laeliinae: Epidendrum radicans
  • Laeliinae: Epidendrum rigidum
  • Laeliinae: Epidendrum schlecterianum
  • Laeliinae: Epidendrum unidentified
  • Laeliinae: Guarianthe bowringiana
  • Laeliinae: Isabelia pulchella
  • Laeliinae: Isochilus carnosiflorus
  • Laeliinae: Laelia rubescens
  • Laeliinae: Myrmecophila christinae
  • Laeliinae: Myrmecophila tibicinis
  • Laeliinae: Scaphyglottis confusa
  • Laeliinae: Scaphyglottis longicaulis
  • Pleurothallidinae: Acianthera aphthosa
  • Pleurothallidinae: Acianthera casapensis
  • Pleurothallidinae: Anathallis linearifolia 'D&M'
  • Pleurothallidinae: Dracula pusilla
  • Pleurothallidinae: Masdevallia herradurae
  • Pleurothallidinae: Masdevallia infracta
  • Pleurothallidinae: Myoxanthus affinis
  • Pleurothallidinae: Octomeria unidentified
  • Pleurothallidinae: Pleurothallis longipedicellata
  • Pleurothallidinae: Pleurothallis nuda
  • Pleurothallidinae: Pleurothallis prolaticollaris
  • Pleurothallidinae: Pleurothallis unidentified
  • Pleurothallidinae: Pleurothallis unidentified
  • Pleurothallidinae: Specklinia brighamii
  • Pleurothallidinae: Specklinia grobyi
  • Pleurothallidinae: Specklinia tribuloides
  • Pleurothallidinae: Stelis argentata
  • Pleurothallidinae: Stelis argentata
  • Pleurothallidinae: Stelis megachlamys
  • Pleurothallidinae: Stelis quadrifida
  • Pleurothallidinae: Stelis restrepioides
  • Pleurothallidinae: Trichosalpinx chamaelepanthes
  • Pleurothallidinae: Zootrophion hirtzii

Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Malaxideae

  • Liparis condylobulbon

Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Podochileae

  • Eriinae: Ceratostylis retisquama
  • Eriinae: Eria carinata
  • Eriinae: Eria javanica
  • Eriinae: Pinalia bractescens
  • Eriinae: Pinalia copelandii
  • Eriinae: Trichotosia velutina

Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Vandeae

  • Aerangidinae: Diaphananthe pellucida
  • Aerangidinae: Microterangis hariotiana
  • Aerangidinae: Mystacidium capense
  • Aeridinae: Ascocentrum ampullaceum
  • Aeridinae: Cleisocentron gokusingii
  • Aeridinae: Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana
  • Aeridinae: Sarcochilus hartmannii
  • Aeridinae: Tuberolabium kotoense
  • Aeridinae: Vanda coerulea
  • Aeridinae: Vanda tricolor var. suavis
  • Angraecinae: Angraecum distichum
  • Angraecinae: Angraecum sesquipedale
  • Angraecinae: Jumellea arachnantha
  • Polystachyinae: Neobenthamia gracilis

Subfamily Orchidoideae
Tribe Cranchideae

  • Cranchidinae: Cladobium graminifolium

Subfamily Orchidoideae
Tribe Cranichideae

  • Goodyerinae: Ludisia discolor

Subfamily Orchidoideae
Tribe Orchideae

  • Orchidinae: Habenaria medusa

Subfamily Vanilloideae
Tribe Vanilleae

  • Vanilla phalaenopsis
  • Vanilla planifolia
  • Vanilla pompona
  • Vanilla roscheri
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
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