Vanilla Plum. ex Mill., Gard. Dict. Abr. ed. 4 (1754)
Synonyms:
Vanillophorum Neck., Elem. Bot. 3: 134 (1790), opus utique oppr.
Myrobroma Salisb., Parad. Lond.: t. 82 (1807).
Description:
Plants climbing, to several m long. Stem slightly thick or fleshy, each node with 1 leaf and an aerial root. Leaves large, fleshy, shortly stipitate, sometimes reduced and scale-like. Raceme at leaf axil, several to many flowered. Flowers resupinate, often large, often with 1 abscission layer between ovary and perianth. Sepals similar to petals, free, spreading; labellum with lower margin often connate to column margins, sometimes connate part nearly equal to column, thus labellum often trumpet-shaped, front free parts often dilated, sometimes 3-lobed; labellum disc often with various appendages, spurless; column long, slender; anthers inserted at apex of column, tilted downward; pollinia 2 or 4, granular farinaceous or very loose, without caudicle or viscidium; rostellum often broad, below anther. Fruit legume-like, fleshy, indehiscent or not. Seeds with thick testa, often black, wingless.
Distribution:
Trop. & Subtrop.
Cultivation:
Vanilla plants are easy to maintain in a warm greenhouse. They need to be able to put out roots into a rich but well drained compost in a large container. With support from a cane or wires the stems will quickly grow up towards the light. Li there is plenty of space they will branch and form a dense growth immediately below the roof. It is only when the stems have achieved their full length that I flower-bearing side branches develop and hang down into die greenhouse. Although each flower lasts only a few days, there is usually a succession of Cattleya-like flowers. These may be followed by I a bunch of green fruits resembling french beans if the flowers are pollinated.
Species:

World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.kew.org/wcsp/ accessed 07/01/2015
Bibliography and References:

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