Accession Data
Common Name: Vanilla Orchid
Family: Orchidaceae
Country of Origin: Mexico to Colombia
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
USDA Zone: 10a-11
Accession #: 201100222
Accession Date: 2011-07-06 00:00:00
Bloom Status: 🪴 Not Flowering
Location: 3228
Quantity: 1
Source: Lisa Palmer - Dartmouth College
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
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Subclass: monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
SubFamily: Vanilloideae
Tribe: Vanilleae
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