''Vanilla pompona'' 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
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
and northern South America, and is one of the sources for
vanilla
Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus ''Vanilla (genus), Vanilla'', primarily obtained from pods of the Mexican species, flat-leaved vanilla (''Vanilla planifolia, V. planifolia'').
Pollination is required to make the p ...
flavouring
A flavoring (or flavouring), also known as flavor (or flavour) or flavorant, is a food additive used to improve the taste or smell of food. It changes the perceptual impression of food as determined primarily by the chemoreceptors of the gustat ...
, due to its high
vanillin
Vanillin is an organic compound with the molecular formula . It is a phenolic aldehyde. Its functional groups include aldehyde, hydroxyl, and ether. It is the primary component of the extract of the vanilla bean. Synthetic vanillin is now used ...
content.
''Vanilla pompona'' found in the Peruvian Amazon has been tested using HPLC analysis showing a concentration of vanillin content up to 9.88g/100g making it suitable for the food or cosmetic industry.
Description
![Vanilla pompona - Flickr 003](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Vanilla_pompona_-_Flickr_003.jpg)
Like all members of the genus ''Vanilla'', ''V. pompona'' is a
vine
A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themselv ...
. It uses its fleshy roots to support itself as it grows. Its leaves and stems are generally thicker than in ''
V. planifolia'' and ''
V. phaeantha''.
References
External links
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pompona
Orchids of Mexico
Orchids of Central America
Orchids of South America
Crops originating from Mexico
Orchids of Florida
{{Vanilloideae-stub