''Vanilla pilifera'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
vanilla orchid. It is native to
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainlan ...
.
Distribution
''Vanilla pilifera'' is found only in
Malay Peninsula and
peninsular Thailand. ''Vanilla pilifera'' is cultivated at the
Hortus Botanicus in
Leiden
Leiden (; in English and archaic Dutch also Leyden) is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. The municipality of Leiden has a population of 119,713, but the city forms one densely connected agglomeration wi ...
.
Scattered in
dry evergreen forest.
Description
Monopodial terrestrial climbing orchid, stem and leaves succulent, rooting from node, internode 7–10 cm. Leaves thick, oblong, 10–14 cm; apex acute; base obtuse; petioles 1–1.5 cm. Inflorescences arise from node, ca 5 cm. long, with 6-12 flowers; bracts 0.5–1 cm. long; pedicels 5–6 cm long. Sepal 3, free, oblong-lanceolate, greenish, shiny, 3–3.4 cm long. Lateral petals similar to sepals; labellum whitish pink with dark purple veins inside, ca 3 cm long with appendage hairs at apex down to the mouth close to 8-10 scales of brush, hairs ca 0.5 cm long; lower inside in front column dark red; column 1–1.8 cm long, most part connate to labellum; operculum green.
Notes
References
Plant of the month April, 2007 ''Vanilla pilifera'' Holttum
pilifera
Orchids of Malaya
Orchids of Thailand
Flora of Peninsular Malaysia
{{Vanilloideae-stub