Verification of the vanilla planifolia species in the university park, Terepaima, Lara State and in the Vigia, Cerro Tomasote, Bolívar State

Abstract

Among the species of the Orchidaceae family, they stand out for their non-ornamental applications, those of the genus Vanilla, dueto the production of vanilla and the high commercial value they have. On the other hand, the cultivation of plants of this kind is presented in a sustainable way, because it requires little soil and can be housed in trees or in combination with other crops. It then presents a high potential for the development of sustainable agricultural activities in protected areas. such as herbaria. The wild plants found in both sites were monitored temporarithe University Park that serves as a protective area of the Terepaima National Park. They have been reported in the University Park, in the basin of the Tabure stream, Lara and in La Vigía, Bolívar state, specimens of the Vanilla planifolia species. However, the characteristics of the genus, of these hemiepiphyte plants, prevent morphological identification from being carried out with the vegetative material. This can be done with certainty in a first stage through the collection of flowers, which in many cases are scarce, ephemeral and low frequency, both in the field and in ly, until flowering, during the month of May. Specimens were collected for herbarium, exsicatas and samples preserved in ethanol. The presence of the species was verified by means of the morphological characteristics of the flower, which constitutes a first step for the reproduction for the purpose of conservation and sustainable use.