West Indian Vanilla

Description

Vanilla pompona is a species of vanilla orchid. It is native to Mexico and northern South America,and is one of the sources for vanilla flavouring, due to its high vanillin content.Like all members of the genus Vanilla, V. pompona is a vine. It uses its fleshy roots to support itself as it grows. Its leaves and stems are generally thicker than in V. planifolia and V. phaeantha.