*e 
on Oe 
MR. R. ALLEN ROLFE ON THE GENUS VANILLA. 445 
has to be practised. In Réunion, where the industry com- 
menced about half a century ago, it is estimated that probably 
3,000 acres are under cultivation, and the crop of 1889 
exceeded 500,000 Ibs. It is also cultivated in the Seychelles, 
Mauritius, Java, Tahiti, and Fiji. The finest Vanilla is said to 
be still produced in Mexico, and in 1891 the amount imported 
into the United States was 135,875 Ibs., this being the chief 
market for Mexican Vanilla. 
The fruit of V. Pompona comes into the market under the 
name of Vanillons, the bulk of those entering into commerce 
being obtained from the West Indies; Guadeloupe and 
Martinique being the principal places of export. Some are 
also collected in Mexico from wild plants. Their principal 
consumption is said to be among the tobacco manufacturers 
and perfumers, for the manufacture of sachet powders. The 
fruits are very fleshy and difficult to dry, but are largely used 
in a fresh state for flavouring confectionery. 
The source of what is known as South American Vanilla is a 
little doubtful, but is thought to be V. Gardneri, for Gardner 
says :—“ This is the plant which yields the Vanilla (Banilha 
of the Brazilians) in Brazil,” and fruits in the Kew Museum 
labelled ‘‘ Brazilian or Bahia Vanilla,” have the same rank 
odour as is ascribed to ‘‘South American Vanilla.” Of the 
latter, as much as $,000 lbs. are said to have been imported 
into the United Kingdom in 1891, and it has been suggested 
that it is chiefly used as an adulterant. 
V. pheantha has also been cultivated in the West Indies, but 
its fruits are said to possess very little perfume. V. odorata 
and V. appendiculata have also aromatic fruits, but are not 
known in commerce. Humboldt also records one as occurring 
in Peru; it is probable that our information under this head is 
still very imperfect. 
GENERIC CHARACTER. 
Vanitia, Sw. in Nov. Act. Soc. Sc. Upsal., vi. (1799) p. 66, 
t. 5. Sepala subequalia, libera, patentia vel subpatentia. 
Petala sepalis subsimilia. Labelli unguis columne plus minusve 
adnatus, sepissime tubum longum formans, limbus _latus, 
integer vel trilobus, facie levis, puberulus vel varie appendicu.. 
latus, medio seepius cristatus, columna elongata, subincyrvya, 
apoda, ad latera stigmatis biauriculata. Anthor@ margin 
