Vanilla Aphylla

[ABro]

This is a picture of a new acquisition that I got today. It is a leafless vanilla vine, and a Florida native. I got to see the flowers today, and totally forgot to take a picture of it. The flowers are a nice white with a hairy purple lip. Really something to behold.

[Diane]

I didn't know there was a vanilla native to florida!! And leafless!?! If you get another chance to see the flowers, you've have to take a photo for us!

[ABro]

I didn't know either there was one native to Fl. I do remember hearing some something a few years ago about them finding a type of vanilla in Ft Meyers Naples area, but don't remember what ever came of it. All I know is that this is the first leafless vanilla I have ever seen, so naturally I had to beg for a piece of it!

[Molly Taco]

I have a vanilla that has a little leaf that has finally attached to my live oak and Angel Trumpet. I have some extra cuttings, want to trade????
Cin

[ABro]

I'll give you piece of this after I get it established, deal?

[Molly Taco]

DEAL !!!
Cin

[orchid-man]

Ok here you can have a read about it and if you thake the name of the plant off the address you will get all of the vanilla.There is also a photo of the flower.
http://www.orchidspecies.com/vanaphylla.htm

[ABro]

Thanks for the link Murray!

[Diane]

Yes, thanks. That is quite a lovely flower!

[Mahon]

Hey! Nice cutting! How's the plant coming along?

Vanilla aphylla is a Caribbean species, fairly widespread in its range. The leafless species native to Florida are Vanilla barbellata ('Wormvine') and Vanilla dilloniana ('Dillon's Vanilla'). The latter (V. dilloniana) is extinct in its Florida habitat, leaving only a single large specimen in existence (collected 50+ years ago), and few cuttings to other growers. The other Vanilla species native to Florida is Vanilla phaeantha, the 'Zig Zag Vanilla', and Vanilla mexicana, the type species for Vanilla (previously known as Vanilla vanilla and Vanilla inodora).

The Florida distribution for Vanilla barbellata ranges from Miami-Dade, Collier, Broward, and Monroe (which includes the Keys). It is more likely to find this species growing either in mangroves or in Pine Flatwoods. There is no concrete information upon Vanilla dilloniana and its original locality in Florida. Vanilla phaentha is widespread in Collier County, much more abundant within the Fakahatchee Strand. Vanilla mexicana was originally discovered by Fred Fuchs, Jr. and his father in Miami-Dade county, a bit south of Homestead. The new localities are kept secret, but are located in scrub in Martin County.

Keep in mind that all of these species are considered endangered in Florida, but all species are found elsewhere and are somewhat more common. Most of these Vanilla species are plentiful in their Florida distributions (except for Vanilla mexicana and Vanilla dilloniana), but are marked as endangered to prevent collection and exploitation of the native plants.

Anyways... that has nothing to do with your Vanilla aphylla!

-Pat