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Vanilla phaeantha Rchb. f.
Leafy vanilla

Vanilla phaeantha
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley

Family: Orchidaceae

Group: Monocot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Vine

Perennation: Perennial

Native Range: South Florida and the West Indies (not Puerto Rico).

Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida

NatureServe Global Status: Apparently Secure

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 336-338) based on one extant occurrence at the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Collier County, where it is still extant. Historically, plants were both native to and introduced to Everglades National Park but no plants had been seen there since 1963 (Gann 2015). However, in 2007 a small population was rediscovered there by orchid enthusiast Russ Clusman and Everglades National Park Botanist Jimi Sadle.

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Cultivated

Comments: See also, IRC’s report Vascular plant species of management concern in Everglades National Park (Gann 2015), page 125.

Other data on Vanilla phaeantha available from :

Vanilla phaeantha has been found in the following 3 conservation areas :
Occurrence Native Status
Big Cypress National Preserve Reported
Everglades National Park Present Native
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Present Native

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

Vanilla phaeantha has been found in the following habitat :
Strand Swamp

All Images:

Vanilla phaeantha
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Vanilla phaeantha
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Vanilla phaeantha
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Vanilla phaeantha
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Vanilla phaeantha
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Vanilla phaeantha
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Vanilla phaeantha
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Vanilla phaeantha
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley