A Study of Vegetative and Floral Morphology of Vanilla Planifolia and Vanilla Tahitensis

Abstract

Vanilla planifolia is the widely cultivated species of Vanilla and Vanilla tahitensis is cultivated to a limited extent. Comparative study of vegetative morphology and floral morphology of the two species has shown that the two species, even though have got almost similar appearance, they show significant difference in some characters. Leaves of Vanilla tahitensis are significantly narrow and leaf area is significantly low when compared to Vanilla planifolia. Inflorescence length is significantly higher in Vanilla tahitensis. Average duration from flower initiation to first flower opening is lower in Vanilla tahitensis. Among flower characters significant reduction is found in Vanilla tahitensis in the case of bract length, labellum length, labellum breadth and gynostemium length.