Vanilla methonica Rchb.f. & Warsz. 1854 SUBGENUS Vanilla

Drawing by © Franz Eugen Köhler

Common Name The ?Vanilla

Flower Size

Found in Colombia and Peru.

"We have seen very few specimens referable to this species, and the type is poorly preserved. However, the protologue is good enough to identify their specific concept with modern specimens from Peru. The rather short inflorescences (for the membranaceous group), with small, broadly ovate bracts and the large flowers with a strongly 3-lobed lip, in which the lateral lobes are oblong and rounded and the emarginate midlobe are characteristic. Like many others in the V. mexicana group, it has 3 longitudinal keels, converging on the lip apex, but the keels are thickened in the distal part and somewhat rugose. It seems to be more closely related to V. inodora, but it lacks the characteristic cushion-like, massive callus of that species. V. oroana Dodson, from the Pacific slopes of Ecuador, has very large foliaceous bracts, the tepals are strongly contorted, and it has 5 apical keels on the acute lip; no other membranaceous vanilla is known from Andean South America." Soto Arenaas & Cribb 2010

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Lankesteriana 9(3): 355-398 Soto Arenas & Cribb 2010

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