The flavouring vanilla comes from a species of which plant?
Vanilla polylepis its tip. Once fertilised, the plant produces dry seeds pods, known as capsules, measuring by . Each capsule contains oval-shaped, wingless seeds. Seeds measure in length, which is comparatively large for an orchid. This species looks similar to "Vanilla imperialis" but can distinguished by a series of scales on the lip and purple blotches rather than lines on the flower. The generic name "Vanilla" comes from the Spanish word "vanilla", meaning "little pod", referring to the plant's seed pods. The epithet "polylepis" comes from Greek, combining the prefix 'poly', meaning "many, with "lepis" meaning "scale". "Polylepis" refers to the rows
Vanilla polylepis yellow with a pink to maroon blotch. This differentiates them from similar species. They have seedpod-like fruits, called capsules, which produce a distinctive aroma as they dry. They are closely related to the well-known species "Vanilla planifolia", whose seed pods are used commercially in the production of vanilla flavouring. "V. polylepis" is a climbing vine. It has a fleshy, succulent stem with an intense green colour. The stem can reach about in length and has a diameter of . The stems are angular with channels running along their length. Leaves are produced in an alternating disposition along the stem, measuring