Hortus Botanicus Leiden, Netherlands

Common name: Vanille-orchidee, Flat-leaved vanilla, Tahitian vanilla, West Indian vanilla, Vanille

Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid family)

Life form: Epiphyte

Comments: The vanilla orchid is a vine that uses its fleshy roots as support. It grows in wet tropical climates, such as in Mexico, Central America and Madagascar. The species is cultivated extensively in Veracruz, Mexico and Madagascar. This is due to its thin elongated fruits, which are dried and fermented and then sold as vanilla pods. It is from these that vanilla extract is obtained.
The flowers are greenish-yellow and around 5 cm large, and last only one day. To produce fruits, the flowers need to be pollinated by hand because only a small portion of flowers are pollinated naturally. It takes several months for the fruits to ripen. In the Leiden Botanic Garden, research is conducted into the cultivation of this plant and the substances it contains.