Native Plants

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Cressler, Alan

Vanilla barbellata

Vanilla barbellata Rchb. f.

Wormvine Orchid, Leafless Vanilla, Worm Vine, Link Vine

Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)

Synonym(s): Vanilla articulata

USDA Symbol: VABA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N), VI (N)

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb , Vine
Root Type: Aerial
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Climbing, becoming completely epiphytic with age. May reach up to 50 feet long.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Red , Yellow , Green , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: FL
Native Distribution: South Florida (endangered) and the West Indies.
Native Habitat: On mangroves on islands and coastal hammocks.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACW			UPL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Vanilla barbellata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Vanilla barbellata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Vanilla barbellata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-20
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

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