Vanilla gardneri
Rolfe
Orchidaceae
Common Name: Brazilian Vanilla
General Information
Brazilian vanilla is a succulent-stemmed, perennial climbing plant, producing a stem that can be 7 metres or more long. The plant grows into trees, supporting itself by means of aerial roots that are produced from the stem nodes. It is often epiphytic, or becomes epiphytic as the lower portion of the stem withers and dies.
The plant yields a seed pod that can be used like vanilla. Mainly used locally, it has minor commercial importance, mainly as an adulterant of the true vanilla (Vanilla planifolia). The plant is sometimes cultivated for its pods[
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Northern S. America - Brazil, Venezuela.
Habitat
Dry, rocky bushy places.
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial Climber |
| Height | 7.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The seedpod is used as a flavouring for a range of foods[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. A vanilla flavour[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
