Vanilla pilifera is a species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of vanilla orchid. It is native to Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...

.

Distribution

Vanilla pilifera is found only in Malay Peninsula

Malay Peninsula

The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...

 and peninsular Thailand. Vanilla pilifera is cultivated at the Hortus Botanicus

Hortus Botanicus

Hortus botanicus is a Latin term for botanical garden. It may refer to:*Hortus Botanicus Leiden*Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam*Hortus Botanicus Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam...

 in Leiden. Scattered in dry evergreen forest.

Description

Monopodial terrestrial climbing orchid, stem and leaves succulent, rooting from node, internode 7-10 cm. Leaves thick, oblong, 10-14 cm; apex acute; base obtuse; petioles 1-1.5 cm. Inflorescences arise from node, ca 5 cm. long, with 6-12 flowers; bracts 0.5-1 cm. long; pedicels 5-6 cm long. Sepal 3, free, oblong-lanceolate, greenish, shiny, 3-3.4 cm long. Lateral petals similar to sepals; labellum whitish pink with dark purple veins inside, ca 3 cm long with appendage hairs at apex down to the mouth close to 8-10 scales of brush, hairs ca 0.5 cm long; lower inside in front column dark red; column 1-1.8 cm long, most part connate to labellum; operculum green.