Vanilla
-
Authority
Mori, S. A., et al. 1997. Guide to the vascular plants of central French Guiana: Part 1. Pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76: 1-422.
-
Family
Orchidaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Genus Description - Hemiepiphytic, succulent lianas to several meters long, rooting at nodes. Leaves fleshy or coriaceous, sessile or shortpetiolate, distichous, occasionally absent. Inflorescences short, fleshy, axillary racemes. Flowers medium-sized to large, appearing sequentially, short-lived; sepals and petals subequal, free, spreading, the petals frequently broader; lip variously lobed, tubular, adnate to column, usually enfolding column; column elongated, wingless, footless; pollinia granular. Fruits elongatefusiform, fleshy, indehiscent. Vanilla mexicana and V. planifolia are known from Saiil only as sterile collections. Flowering material may alter these tentative identifications and these descriptions based on flowering specimens from outside of Saul.