The Vanilla Orchid Flowers and Seeds
The Vanilla Orchid Flowers and Seeds
You might be surprised to learn that vanilla flavor comes from an orchid. The Vanilla Orchid is commonplace in most parts of tropical Asia, South America, parts of Africa and New Guinea. This type of orchid is similar to a vine where it climbs up trees and other structures. It is a monopod which means that it only grows a single vine from which several thick, green leaves grow alternately. These leaves are rounded and may be quite thick depending on the species of Vanilla Orchid.
The Vanilla Orchid can grow up to 40 meters long and can span the top of a tree to the ground. Their roots are aerial roots, much like other species of orchids and grow from nodes along the length of the plant. The stems of some Vanilla Orchid species also perform photosynthesis which is why some of the species may have little or no leaves at all.
The Vanilla Orchid Flowers
The flowers of the Vanilla Orchid vary in color from white to green and even light, creamy yellow. The flowers are short lived and bloom in the morning and close late in the afternoon just in pone day during the blooming season. If the flowers are pollinated they eventually develop into the vanilla seed pods that we get vanilla from after several months. If pollination does not occur, the wilting flower will drop off.
The Vanilla Orchid flowers look pretty much like other orchids with some slight differences. The tube is somewhat elongated and ends with a bell shape. Both petals and sepals are alike in this orchid. The flowers give off a sweet smell when they bloom. The flowers of the different species may have some variations of\n color, size and spread.
The Vanilla Orchid Seed Pods
The Vanilla Orchid's seed pods develop from the pollinated flowers. It is actually the pod itself that is made into vanilla flavoring not the seeds. As the seed pod grows darker, it gives of a strong smell reminiscent of vanilla. The seeds in the pods may count up to a thousand seeds per pod. The Vanilla Orchid seed pods are elongated green pods to start with and they eventually grow darker as they mature. Most species have similar looking seed pods that hang from the plant.
The Vanilla Orchid is the only orchid specie that is generally used for food and cosmetics. All the other orchid species are for decorative and aesthetic purposes only.