Orchidaceae
Vanilla

Vanilla claviculata Sw.

First published in Nova Acta Regiae Soc. Sci. Upsal., ser. 2, 6: 66 (1799)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Caribbean. It is a climber and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology Stem
Main stem leafless, long-trailing or climbing, 1–2 cm thick when fresh (shrinking by about one half when dried); internodes 10–13 cm long; adventitious roots often twisting like tendrils.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves early deciduous, 2–8 cm long, linear-lanceolate, rigid, involute, recurved, acuminate at the apex, half clasping at the base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Raceme with 8 or more sessile flowers, appearing stalked by the long narrow ovary; bracts reflexed, 2–11 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers fragrant; perianth 3.5–4.5 cm long, glaucous green; lip 4–4.5 cm long, its apex rounded, white or white with two reddish, lateral blotches near the base, more or less curled or ruffled on the upper margin; disc with a broad thickened mid-rib running the length of the lip and with erect, fleshy, often forked hairs, and a hinged beard nearly 1 cm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column 2.5–3 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Berry ellipsoid-cylindric, 7–11 cm long.
Distribution
Grand Cayman, Bahamas and Greater Antilles, rather common.
[Cayman]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora of the Cayman Islands

    • Flora of the Cayman Islands
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0