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Vanilla mexicana Mill.
Mexican vanilla, Fuchs’ vanilla

Vanilla mexicana

Family: Orchidaceae

Group: Monocot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Vine

Perennation: Perennial

Native Range: South Florida, the West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America.

Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida

NatureServe Global Status: Vulnerable

State of Florida Status: Endangered

Florida Natural Areas Inventory State Status: Critically Imperiled

IRC SOUTH FLORIDA Status: Critically Imperiled

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Present

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Native

South Florida History and Distribution: Ranked as critically imperiled in Rare Plants of South Florida (Gann et al. 2002; pp 564-566) as Vanilla inodora based on one occurrence in three protected areas (Jimmy Graham Boat Ramp, Peck Lake Park, Seabranch Preserve State Park). It was rediscovered near the site of its original discovery in Miami-Dade County in 2006.

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Cultivated

Comments: Listed as introducted to Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on the USDA PLANTS website, in error.
For images, visit the Plants of Saint Lucia website.

Synonyms: Vanilla inodora; Vanilla planifolia of USDA PLANTS, not Jacks.

Other data on Vanilla mexicana available from :

Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
Vanilla mexicana has been found in the following 6 conservation areas :
Occurrence Native Status
Gomez Present Native
Jimmy Graham Boat Ramp
Peck Lake Park Present Native
Seabranch Preserve State Park Present Native
South Dade Wetlands Present Native
Southern Glades Present Native

Vanilla mexicana has been found in the following 2 counties :
Occurrence Native Status
Martin County Native
Miami-Dade County Native


All Images:

Vanilla mexicana