Mexican Vanilla (Vanilla mexicana)

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Orchidaceae
State: FL
Nature Serve ID: 154850
Lifeform: Vine, Forb/herb
Categories of Interest: Orchids
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

Vanilla mexicana is one of the rarest perennial orchids in Florida which begin growing in the ground from the roots of Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto) then work their way up a nearby tree as a vine. Each vine segment is 3-4 long, with a single large, broad, glossy, oval leaf and a single root. The root eventually attaches to the surface of the tree, allowing the upper portion of the plant to grow epiphytically. Over time, the ground-based portion of the plant dies, and the plant becomes a true epiphyte. Although they do not transplant well, the orchids were nonetheless nearly extirpated by collectors, then the remaining population was flooded by the storm surge from several recent coastal hurricanes. Seed pods continue to hang down from previous inflorescences, giving hope that more seedlings will grow in the future.

Where is Mexican Vanilla (Vanilla mexicana) located in the wild?

States & Provinces:

Mexican Vanilla can be found in Florida

Which CPC Partners conserve Mexican Vanilla (Vanilla mexicana)?

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Caribbean distribution uncertain; habitat being eliminated by development and hydrologic changes.