Vanilla barbellata Rchb.f.

  • Authority

    Ackerman, James D. 1995. An orchid flora of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 73: 1-203.

  • Family

    Orchidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Vanilla barbellata Rchb.f.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants terrestrial or hemiepiphytic vines, many meters long. Roots gray, usually 1-2 per node, glabrous, 1-3 mm diam. when aerial, thicker and villous when in contact with substrate. Stems scandent, smooth, occasionally branched, 3-9 mm diam. Leaves early deciduous, relatively thin, broad basally, otherwise linearlanceolate, to 4 cm long, 8 mm wide. Inflorescences axillary on short lateral branches, racemes several- to many-flowered; floral bracts fleshy, broadly ovate, 4-12 mm long. Flowers large, showy, ephemeral, resupinate, produced sequentially. Pedicellate ovary 3-4.5 cm long. Sepals and petals green, free, somewhat spreading. Sepals oblong-oblanceolate, 3-4 cm long, 9-12 mm wide. Petals oblong-oblanceolate, acute to obtuse, slightly falcate, dorsally keeled, 3-4 cm long, 10-13 mm wide. Lip greenish below, deep red above, shading to a white margin; claw and basal margins adnate to the lower half of the column; apex trilobed, overall triangular-obovate, medially thickened; lateral lobes orbicular, involute and arching over the column, sinuses 4-5 mm deep; middle lobe fleshy and reflexed; disc with a tuft of rigid, retrorse bristles. Column straight, semiterete, 2.3-3.3 cm long. Fruits pendent, fusiform-cylindrical, slightly curved, 7-9 cm long, 9-13 mm diam.

  • Discussion

    3. Vanilla barbellata Reichenbach f., Flora 48: 274. 1865. Type. C. Wright 3352, from Cuba (K; AMES, photograph at U S seen). Phenology & Pollination. Plants bloom in April, May, and June. Pollinator attraction is probably deception-based as no apparent reward is produced. Fruit production is rare. Plants have been seen growing with simultaneously flowering Vanilla claviculata and V. dilloniana.

  • Distribution

    General Distribution. The Bahamas, Cuba, Florida (U.S.A.), Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Distribution in Puerto Rico. Known from the southern and western districts; collected from Cabo Rojo, Coamo, Guanica, Guayanilla, Isabela, Penuelas, Ponce, Sabana Grande, Vieques, and Yauco. Distribution in the Virgin Islands. Known from St. Thomas and Virgin Gorda. Habitat. Climbing vine in dry to moist scrub forests at low elevations (sea level to 300 m); common.

    Bahamas South America| Cuba South America| United States of America North America| Puerto Rico South America| Virgin Islands South America|