In the native lowland forest habitat flowering takes place in April and May towards the end of the dry season. Though each flower lasts only one day, the flowering of Vanilla planifolia takes place over a period of two months once a year. The flowers require pollination to set fruit, but open in the morning and usually fade in rising temperatures of the same afternoon. The flowers are greenish-yellow, with a diameter of 5 cm (2 in) and only have a slight scent. The flowers come from an axillary cluster that will have 12–20 buds. Leaves last for three to four years if not damaged. When full grown the glossy, bright green leaves are 8–25 cm in length and 2–8 cm wide, lanceolate to oval in shape with a pointed tip. ![]() On the nodes opposite the root nodes it has a single flat bladed succulent leaf. These aerial support roots almost never branch and are only present on younger parts of the vine while the older parts of the vine will hang down through the canopy to the forest floor. To cling to trees or other surfaces it has thick, fleshy aerial roots that develop from the nodes. Younger parts of the vine, well attached to their support, will have a zig-zag structure with an angle of about 120° at each node. ![]() When growing in full shade the vine will very seldom branch, but when in sunlight it will develop multiple branches. In the wild it easily grows to 15 meters in length, and may grow to as much as 30 meters. When rooted in the soil its terrestrial roots are branched and develop fine root hairs associated with mycorrhizal fungus. It will sometimes grow as an epiphyte without rooting in the soil. Vanilla planifolia grows as an evergreen vine, either on the ground or on trees. With the species' population in decline and its habitats being converted to other purposes, the IUCN has assessed Vanilla planifolia as Endangered. ![]() It was first scientifically named in 1808. Often, it is simply referred to as "the vanilla". Common names include flat-leaved vanilla, and West Indian vanilla (also used for the Pompona vanilla, V. It is one of the primary sources for vanilla flavouring, due to its high vanillin content. Vanilla planifolia is a species of vanilla orchid native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Brazil.
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