(photo James Miller)
Vanilla is actually produced from the cured seed pod of the vanilla orchid, Vanilla planifolia. This species of Vanilla orchid is native to Belize, Guatemala and Mexico. It’s thought to have been first cultivated by the totonac people. Vanilla has a climbing monopodial habit and is found growing up trees in its native habitat.
The last photo is a portrait of Edmond Albius with the vanilla orchid, inspired by a Antoine Roussin. He was a horticulturist and the first person to discover how to hand pollinate vanilla, allowing it to be grown outside it’s native range. Prior to this it required a specific species of bee, only found it vanilla’s native, Central American range. Albius made this discovery when he was just 12, in 1841 and tragically being kept as a slave.
(photo James Miller)
Albius is one of the great unsung hero’s of horticulture. This discovery was of huge commercial importance and because of it, Today, Madagascar is the biggest producer of vanilla. Sadly, Albius died in poverty and his story has been largely forgotten. You can read more in ‘Remarkable Plants that Shape Our World’ by Helen & William Bynum.
My Wardian Case 