Fixin' Vanilla

I really have no excuse for goobering up some science now and again, but fortunately, I do have some hard-headed and generous readers who act as editors.

The real vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia). Photo by cliff1066

A few months ago, I blogged on an article in the American Journal of Botany, which described recent genetic research into the origins of vanilla. It seems that although everyone agrees that vanilla is a New World domesticate, the most desired and priciest vanilla, V. tahitensis, is found in Polynesia, and only in Polynesia. I got that right—but I misunderstood some things about how it got there that faithful reader Zandt Acree kindly pointed out. For one thing, the original picture on the piece was NOT a vanilla orchid.

So, here is the corrected version, with my heartfelt gratitude to Zandt Acree and all the fine public editors who keep my feet to the fire.

• Domestication of Vanilla, the corrected entry in the Plant Domestication Table
• Vanilla Orchids and the Maya, the amended blog post
• Guide to Plant Domestication