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Brief Summary

provided by EOL authors

The vanilla orchids (genus Vanilla) include about 110 flowering species in the family Orchidaceae that grow as lianas (woody vines).They are native mostly to wet tropical forests world-wide, although absent in Australia. The center of their diversity is the American tropics.The best-known species, the flat-leaved vanilla (V. planifolia), from which commercial vanilla flavoring is derived is the only orchid industrially produced for food and cosmetic purposes.It is native to the Mexico and Central America and its use has been documented by Aztecs and Mayans (Rodolphe et al. 2011; Kew RBG 2013). Another species often grown commercially but not on an industrial scale is the Pompona vanilla, V. pompona(Wikipedia 2013).Flavoring is extracted from the mature, dried pods and seeds (Kew RBG 2013).

Vanillas form long thin stems up to 35 m (115 feet) in length, with short, oblong, thick, leathery dark green leaves alternating along the vine and long aerial roots growing down from each node.A number of species have leaves reduced to scales and some with leaves absent completely so the vine is thought to photosynthesize using their green climbing stems. While most Vanilla species grow in warm wet conditions, these 18 or so leafless species are adapted to dry habitats. One exception to the lianescent form is the species V. dietschiana which grows to about 35 cm high, which has been considered different genus (Dictyophyllaria) because of its different morphology (Rodolphe et al. 2011).

There may be up to 100 flowers on a single Vanilla raceme, but usually no more than 20. The flowers are large and attractive with white, green, greenish yellow or cream colors and most have a sweet scent (although not the scent of commercial vanilla, which comes from the seed).A flower blooms only for one day, after which it falls off the stalk if not pollinated.The flowers are self-fertile but most require pollinators, which are now thought to be mostly bees; in Central America large euglossine bees. Vanilla species do not produce nectar as pollination rewards, instead pollinators collect pollen, oils and flower fragrance and/or are tricked into pollinating flowers with no reward. Hand pollination is the most reliable method of fertilizing commercially grown Vanilla (Rodolphe et al. 2011).

The fruit, called a "vanilla bean" is not a true bean, but rather a capsule 10–20cm long, which encloses millions of tiny seeds. It ripens gradually several months after flowering, eventually turning black in color and giving off a strong aroma, and the dehiscent pod pops open allowing seeds (usually coated with sticky oil) to be dispersed by mammals, birds and insects, and in some cases by wind or simply gravity (Rodolphe et al. 2011).

The larvae of some Lepidoptera species, such as the wooly bear moths Hypercompe eridanus and H. icasia use Vanilla species as food plants (Rodolphe et al. 2011).

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Description

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Lianes bearing aerial or clinging adventitious roots. Leaves present (in ours), fleshy. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, few-many-flowered. Flowers large, white, yellow or green, often marked with purple or yellow on the lip. Sepals and petals similar, free. Lip usually larger than the sepals and petals, adnate to the column and forming a funnel.
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Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Vanilla Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=423
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Mark Hyde
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Bart Wursten
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Petra Ballings
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Flora of Zimbabwe

Vanilla (genus)

provided by wikipedia EN

Vanilla, the vanilla orchids, forms a flowering plant genus of about 110 species in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The most widely known member is the flat-leaved vanilla (V. planifolia), native to Mexico and Belize,[2] from which commercial vanilla flavoring is derived. It is the only orchid widely used for industrial purposes in flavoring such products as foods, beverages and cosmetics, and is recognized as the most popular aroma and flavor.[3] The key constituent imparting its flavour is the phenolic aldehyde, vanillin.[4]

This evergreen genus occurs worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, from tropical America to tropical Asia, New Guinea and West Africa.[1] Five species are known from the contiguous United States, all limited to southern Florida.[5]

The genus was established in 1754 by Plumier, based on J. Miller. The word vanilla, derived from the diminutive of the Spanish word vaina (vaina itself meaning sheath or pod), simply translates as little pod.

Description

Flat-leaved vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) habitus

This genus of vine-like plants has a monopodial climbing habitus. They can form long thin stems with a length of more than 35 m, with alternate leaves spread along their length. The short, oblong, dark green leaves of Vanilla are thick and leathery, even fleshy in some species. But there are also a significant number of species that have their leaves reduced to scales or have become nearly or totally leafless and appear to use their green climbing stems for photosynthesis. Long and strong aerial roots grow from each node.

The racemose inflorescence's short-lived flowers arise successively on short peduncles from the leaf axils or scales. There may be up to 100 flowers on a single raceme, but usually no less than 20. The flowers are quite large and attractive with white, green, greenish yellow or cream colors. The flowers' sepals and petals are similar. The lip is tubular-shaped and surrounds the long, bristly column, opening up, as the bell of a trumpet, at its apex. The anther is at the top of the column and hangs over the stigma, separated by the rostellum. Most Vanilla flowers have a sweet scent.

Blooming occurs only when the flowers are fully grown. Each flower opens up in the morning and closes late in the afternoon on the same day, never to reopen. If pollination has not occurred meanwhile, it will be shed. The flowers are self-fertile, but need pollinators to perform this task. In the Neotropics, the flowers were historically presumed to be pollinated by stingless bees (e.g. Melipona) or hummingbirds, but this was never confirmed; the only actual documented pollination (i.e., producing seed set) is recorded for an orchid bee, Eulaema meriana, visiting Vanilla grandiflora in Peru,[6] and pollinia of Vanilla species have been observed attached to other species of Eulaema in Panama,[7] and pollinia of Vanilla pompona are carried by males of Eulaema cingulata in Peru.[8] Hand pollination is the most reliable method in commercially grown vanilla.[9] Vanilla plantations require trees for the orchids to climb and anchor by its roots.[9]

The fruit is termed "vanilla bean", though true beans are fabaceous eudicots not at all closely related to orchids. Rather, the vanilla fruit is technically an elongate, fleshy and later dehiscent capsule 10–20 cm long. It ripens gradually for 8 to 9 months after flowering, eventually turning black in color and giving off a strong aroma. Each pod contains thousands of minute seeds, and both the pods and seeds within are used to create vanilla flavoring. Vanilla beans are harvested by hand from commercial orchards.[9]

Vanilla species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, such as the woolly bear moths Hypercompe eridanus and H. icasia. Off-season or when abandoned, they may serve as habitat for animals of open forest, e.g. on the Comoros for Robert Mertens's day gecko (Phelsuma robertmertensi).

Selected species

See List of Vanilla species

The taxonomy of the genus Vanilla is complex.[10]

This is a partial list of species or synonyms:

Aroma and flavor

Regarded as the world's most popular aroma and flavor,[12] vanilla contains the phenolic aldehyde, vanillin, as well as anisaldehyde, together accounting for its predominant sensory characteristics.[4] Vanilla is a widely used aroma and flavor compound for foods, beverages and cosmetics,[3][12] as indicated by its popularity as an ice cream flavor.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". kew.org.
  2. ^ Vega, M.; Hernández, M.; Herrera-Cabrera, B.E.; Wegier, A. (2020). "Vanilla planifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T103090930A172970359. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T103090930A172970359.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b Sinha, A. K.; Sharma, U. K.; Sharma, N (2008). "A comprehensive review on vanilla flavor: Extraction, isolation and quantification of vanillin and others constituents". International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 59 (4): 299–326. doi:10.1080/09687630701539350. PMID 17886091. S2CID 37559260.
  4. ^ a b Takahashi M, Inai Y, Miyazawa N, Kurobayashi Y, Fujita A (2013). "Identification of the key odorants in Tahitian cured vanilla beans (Vanilla tahitensis) by GC-MS and an aroma extract dilution analysis". Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 77 (3): 601–5. doi:10.1271/bbb.120840. PMID 23470766. S2CID 39521387.
  5. ^ "Vanilla in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". efloras.org.
  6. ^ Lubinsky P, Van Dam M, Van Dam A (2006) Pollination of Vanilla and evolution in Orchidaceae. Lindleyana. 75:926–929
  7. ^ Ackerman, J.D. 1983. Specificity and mutual dependency of the orchid–euglossine bee interaction. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 20:301–314
  8. ^ Watteyn, C., Scaccabarozzi, D., Muys, B., Van Der Schueren, N., Van Meerbeek, K., Guizar Amador, M. F., Ackerman, J. D., Cedeño Fonseca, M. V., Chinchilla Alvarado, I. F., Reubens, B., Pillco Huarcaya, R., Cozzolino, S., & Karremans, A. P. (2022). Trick or treat? Pollinator attraction in Vanilla pompona (Orchidaceae). Biotropica 54: 268– 274. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.13034
  9. ^ a b c Mauseth, James (2016). Botany: An Introduction To Plant Biology, 6th edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 656. ISBN 978-1284123586.
  10. ^ Bory, Séverine; Michel Grisoni; Marie-France Duval; Pascale Besse (July 21, 2007). "Biodiversity and preservation of vanilla: present state of knowledge". Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. Springer Netherlands. 55 (4): 551–571. doi:10.1007/s10722-007-9260-3. ISSN 1573-5109. S2CID 34673230.
  11. ^ "GRIN Species Records of Vanilla". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  12. ^ a b Rain, Patricia (2004). Vanilla: The Cultural History of the World's Most Popular Flavor and Fragrance. Tarcher. ISBN 9781585423637.
  13. ^ "Vanilla remains top ice cream flavor with Americans". International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, DC. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2016.

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wikipedia EN

Vanilla (genus): Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

Vanilla, the vanilla orchids, forms a flowering plant genus of about 110 species in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The most widely known member is the flat-leaved vanilla (V. planifolia), native to Mexico and Belize, from which commercial vanilla flavoring is derived. It is the only orchid widely used for industrial purposes in flavoring such products as foods, beverages and cosmetics, and is recognized as the most popular aroma and flavor. The key constituent imparting its flavour is the phenolic aldehyde, vanillin.

This evergreen genus occurs worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, from tropical America to tropical Asia, New Guinea and West Africa. Five species are known from the contiguous United States, all limited to southern Florida.

The genus was established in 1754 by Plumier, based on J. Miller. The word vanilla, derived from the diminutive of the Spanish word vaina (vaina itself meaning sheath or pod), simply translates as little pod.

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Wikipedia authors and editors
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wikipedia EN