Vanilla (genus)
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''Vanilla'', the vanilla orchids, forms a
flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of about 110
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 ...
in the orchid
family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
(
Orchidaceae Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...
). The most widely known member is the
flat-leaved vanilla ''Vanilla planifolia'' is a species of vanilla orchid. It is native to Mexico and Belize. It is one of the primary sources for vanilla flavouring, due to its high vanillin content. Common names include flat-leaved vanilla, and West Indian vanil ...
('' V. planifolia''), native to Mexico and Belize, from which commercial
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 ...
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 An odor (American English) or odour ( Commonwealth English; see spelling differences) is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds that are generally found in low concentrations that humans and animals can perceive via their se ...
and
flavor Flavor or flavour is either the sensory perception of taste or smell, or a flavoring in food that produces such perception. Flavor or flavour may also refer to: Science *Flavors (programming language), an early object-oriented extension to Lis ...
. The key constituent imparting its flavour is the
phenolic aldehyde Phenolic aldehydes are derivatives of phenol. Phenolic aldehydes can be found in wines and cognacs. Examples : * Hydroxybenzaldehydes * Protocatechuic aldehyde * Vanillin and isovanillin Isovanillin is a phenolic aldehyde, an organic compound an ...
,
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 ...
. This evergreen genus occurs worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, from tropical America to
tropical Asia Tropical Asia refers to the entirety of the areas in Asia with a tropical climate. These areas are of geographic and economic importance due to their natural resources and biodiversity, which include many species of agricultural value. There are ...
,
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...
and
West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Maurit ...
. 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.


Description

This genus of
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 ...
-like plants has a
monopodial Vascular plants with monopodial growth habits grow upward from a single point. They add leaves to the apex each year and the stem grows longer accordingly. The word ''Monopodial'' is derived from Greek "mono-", ''one'' and "podial", "foot", in refe ...
climbing habitus. They can form long thin stems with a length of more than 35 m, with alternate
leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
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 Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's activities. Some of this chemical energy is stored i ...
. Long and strong
aerial root Aerial roots are roots above the ground. They are almost always adventitious. They are found in diverse plant species, including epiphytes such as orchids (''Orchidaceae''), tropical coastal swamp trees such as mangroves, banyan figs ('' F ...
s grow from each node. The
racemose A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...
inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...
's short-lived
flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
s 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'
sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...
s and
petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...
s are similar. The
lip The lips are the visible body part at the mouth of many animals, including humans. Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake and in the articulation of sound and speech. Human lips are a tactile sensory organ, and can be ...
is tubular-shaped and surrounds the long, bristly
column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...
, opening up, as the bell of a trumpet, at its apex. The
anther The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...
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 Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther of a plant to the stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, birds ...
has not occurred meanwhile, it will be shed. The flowers are self-fertile, but need pollinators to perform this task. In the
Neotropics The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropics, tropical Ecoregion#Terrestrial, terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperat ...
, the flowers were historically presumed to be pollinated by
stingless bee Stingless bees, sometimes called stingless honey bees or simply meliponines, are a large group of bees (about 550 described species), comprising the tribe Meliponini (or subtribe Meliponina according to other authors). They belong in the family A ...
s (e.g. ''
Melipona ''Melipona'' is a genus of stingless bees, widespread in warm areas of the Neotropics, from Sinaloa and Tamaulipas (México) to Tucumán and Misiones (Argentina). About 70 species are known.Grüter, C. 2020. ''Stingless Bees: Their Behaviour, E ...
'') or
hummingbird Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the biological family Trochilidae. With about 361 species and 113 genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but the vast majority of the species are found in the tropics aro ...
s, but this was never confirmed; the only actual documented pollination (i.e., producing seed set) is recorded for an orchid bee, ''
Eulaema meriana ''Eulaema meriana'' is a large-bodied bee species in the tribe Euglossini, otherwise known as the orchid bees. The species is a solitary bee and is native to tropical Central and South America. The male collects fragrances from orchid flowers, wh ...
'', visiting ''
Vanilla grandiflora Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus ''Vanilla'', primarily obtained from pods of the Mexican species, flat-leaved vanilla ('' V. planifolia''). Pollination is required to make the plants produce the fruit from which t ...
'' in
Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...
, and pollinia of ''Vanilla'' species have been observed attached to other species of ''
Eulaema ''Eulaema'' is a genus of large-bodied euglossine bees that occur primarily in the Neotropics. They are robust brown or black bees, hairy or velvety, and often striped with yellow or orange, typically resembling bumblebees. They lack metallic co ...
'' in
Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...
. Hand pollination is the most reliable method in commercially grown vanilla. Vanilla plantations require trees for the orchids to climb and anchor by its roots. The fruit is termed "vanilla bean", though true
bean A bean is the seed of several plants in the family Fabaceae, which are used as vegetables for human or animal food. They can be cooked in many different ways, including boiling, frying, and baking, and are used in many traditional dishes th ...
s are fabaceous
eudicot The eudicots, Eudicotidae, or eudicotyledons are a clade of flowering plants mainly characterized by having two seed leaves upon germination. The term derives from Dicotyledons. Traditionally they were called tricolpates or non-magnoliid dicot ...
s 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
seed A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...
s, and both the pods and seeds within are used to create vanilla flavoring. Vanilla beans are harvested by hand from commercial orchards. ''Vanilla'' species are used as food plants by the
larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...
e of some
Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...
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 The Comoros,, ' officially the Union of the Comoros,; ar, الاتحاد القمري ' is an independent country made up of three islands in southeastern Africa, located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean. It ...
for
Robert Mertens's day gecko Robert Mertens's day gecko (''Phelsuma robertmertensi'') is diurnal species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to the Comoros. Etymology The specific name, ''robertmertensi'', is in honour of German herpetologist Rob ...
(''Phelsuma robertmertensi'').


Selected species

: ''See List of ''Vanilla'' species'' The taxonomy of the genus ''Vanilla'' is complex. This is a partial list of species or synonyms: * ''
Vanilla albida 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 ...
'' * ''
Vanilla andamanica ''Vanilla andamanica'' is an endangered wild relative of commercial vanilla, ''Vanilla planifolia'', the source of vanilla essence. It grows in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India in the Bay of Bengal., and classified as a Vulnerable species ( ...
'' * ''
Vanilla andina ''Vanilla andina'' is a species of vanilla orchid. It was first described in 2022 from specimens collected in Peru and Ecuador. It is similar to '' Vanilla armoriquensis'' but differs in its “prominent parallel callus, longitudinal narrow k ...
'' * ''
Vanilla aphylla ''Vanilla aphylla'' 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 t ...
'' Blume – Leafless vanilla * ''
Vanilla atropogon Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus ''Vanilla'', primarily obtained from pods of the Mexican species, flat-leaved vanilla ('' V. planifolia''). Pollination is required to make the plants produce the fruit from which t ...
'' * ''
Vanilla bahiana ''Vanilla bahiana'' is an endangered species of vanilla orchid that is restricted to Brazil. It is a natural source of vanillin and is closely related to Vanilla planifolia, a main producer of vanilla. References External links bahian ...
'' * ''
Vanilla barbellata Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus ''Vanilla'', primarily obtained from pods of the Mexican species, flat-leaved vanilla ('' V. planifolia''). Pollination is required to make the plants produce the fruit from which t ...
'' – Small bearded vanilla, wormvine orchid, "leafless vanilla" * ''
Vanilla chamissonis ''Vanilla chamissonis'', commonly known as the Chamisso's vanilla, is a species of orchid. The orchid is native to South America, from French Guiana through Brazil to northeastern Argentina. The species name honors Adelbert von Chamisso Ad ...
'' Klotzsch – Chamisso's vanilla * ''
Vanilla claviculata Vanilla is a spice derived from orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they ...
'' – Green withe * ''
Vanilla dilloniana Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus ''Vanilla'', primarily obtained from pods of the Mexican species, flat-leaved vanilla ('' V. planifolia''). Pollination is required to make the plants produce the fruit from which t ...
'' – Dillon's vanilla, "leafless vanilla" * ''
Vanilla edwallii Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus ''Vanilla'', primarily obtained from pods of the Mexican species, flat-leaved vanilla ('' V. planifolia''). Pollination is required to make the plants produce the fruit from which t ...
'' – Edwall's vanilla * ''
Vanilla humblotii ''Vanilla humblotii'' is a species of orchid endemic to Madagascar and the island of Grande Comore in the Comoros Islands. Both are off Africa in the Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic division ...
'' * ''
Vanilla mexicana Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus ''Vanilla'', primarily obtained from pods of the Mexican species, flat-leaved vanilla ('' V. planifolia''). Pollination is required to make the plants produce the fruit from which t ...
'' Mill. – Mexican vanilla * ''
Vanilla moonii ''Vanilla moonii'' is an endangered 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. plani ...
'' * ''
Vanilla odorata ''Vanilla odorata'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to southern Mexico, Central America, and tropical South America. With ''Vanilla planifolia'' it may be a parent of the vanilla crop species ''Vanilla tahitensis ...
'' C.Presl * ''
Vanilla phaeantha ''Vanilla phaeantha,'' common name leafy vanilla or oblong-leaved vanilla, is a plant species known to occur in the wild only on the islands of Trinidad and Cuba, and also in Collier County, Florida. It occurs in cypress swamps and hammocks at el ...
'' – Leafy vanilla * ''
Vanilla pilifera ''Vanilla pilifera'' is a species of vanilla orchid. It is native to Southeast Asia. Distribution ''Vanilla pilifera'' is found only in Malay Peninsula and peninsular Thailand. ''Vanilla pilifera'' is cultivated at the Hortus Botanicus in ...
'' Holttum * ''
Vanilla planifolia ''Vanilla planifolia'' is a species of vanilla orchid. It is native to Mexico and Belize. It is one of the primary sources for vanilla flavouring, due to its high vanillin content. Common names include flat-leaved vanilla, and West Indian vanil ...
'' Andrews – Flat-leaved vanilla, Tahitian vanilla, "West Indian vanilla" * ''
Vanilla poitaei Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus ''Vanilla'', primarily obtained from pods of the Mexican species, flat-leaved vanilla ('' V. planifolia''). Pollination is required to make the plants produce the fruit from which t ...
'' – Poiteau's vanilla * ''
Vanilla polylepis ''Vanilla polylepis'' is a climbing orchid species in the plant family Orchidaceae. It is native to tropical Africa, with a range spanning the width of the continent, from Kenya to Angola. It grows in high-altitude evergreen and swamp forests bet ...
'' * ''
Vanilla pompona ''Vanilla pompona'' is a species of vanilla orchid. It is native to Mexico and northern South America, and is one of the sources for vanilla flavouring, due to its high vanillin content. ''Vanilla pompona'' found in the Peruvian Amazon has been ...
'' Schiede – Pompona vanilla, Guadeloupe vanilla, "West Indian vanilla" * ''
Vanilla raabii ''Vanilla raabii'' is a species of orchid in the genus ''Vanilla''. It is endemic to the Philippines and can be found on Luzon, the Panay Peninsula, and Samar. It is a climbing epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of ...
'' * ''
Vanilla roscheri ''Vanilla roscheri'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae found in Kenya, Somalia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, ...
'' * ''
Vanilla shenzhenica ''Vanilla shenzhenica'' is a species of ''Vanilla'' native to Guangdong (Shenzhen and Huizhou) and Hong Kong in China. It used to be treated as a synonym of ''Vanilla somae ''Vanilla somae'' is a species of ''Vanilla'' native to the forests ...
'' * ''
Vanilla siamensis ''Vanilla siamensis'' (common name: Thai vanilla) is a plant species of southern China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It is an epiphyte that occurs in montane evergreen forests. Description ''Vanilla siamensis'' is an evergreen climber that ...
'' – Thai vanilla * ''
Vanilla somae ''Vanilla somae'' is a species of ''Vanilla'' native to the forests of Taiwan, northern Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eas ...
'' * ''
Vanilla tahitensis ''Vanilla tahitensis'' is a species of orchid in the genus ''Vanilla''. It was first described by the botanist John William Moore in 1933 from Raiatea in the Society Islands, where it was found growing on trees, having escaped from cultivation. ...
'' * ''
Vanilla walkeriae ''Vanilla walkeriae'' is a species of vanilla orchid native to India and Sri Lanka. It grows in forest and jungle habitat. It is considered to be a rare species.


Aroma and flavor

Regarded as the world's most popular aroma and flavor, vanilla contains the
phenolic aldehyde Phenolic aldehydes are derivatives of phenol. Phenolic aldehydes can be found in wines and cognacs. Examples : * Hydroxybenzaldehydes * Protocatechuic aldehyde * Vanillin and isovanillin Isovanillin is a phenolic aldehyde, an organic compound an ...
,
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 ...
, as well as
anisaldehyde 4-Anisaldehyde, or ''p''-Anisaldehyde, is an organic compound with the formula CH3OC6H4CHO. The molecule consists of a benzene ring with an formyl and a methoxy group. It is a colorless liquid with a strong aroma. It provides sweet, floral and ...
, together accounting for its predominant sensory characteristics. Vanilla is a widely used aroma and flavor compound for foods, beverages and cosmetics, as indicated by its popularity as an
ice cream Ice cream is a sweetened frozen food typically eaten as a snack or dessert. It may be made from milk or cream and is flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit such as str ...
flavor.


References


External links


World Checklist of Vanilla at Kew
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vanilla (Genus) Vanilleae Vanilloideae genera Vines Extant Albian first appearances Early Cretaceous life of Africa Early Cretaceous life of Asia Early Cretaceous life of North America Early Cretaceous life of South America