The vanilla orchid is the only orchid that produces an edible fruit (of the 35,000 or more species of orchids). Although over 50 species of vanilla orchid exist, only three have been used commercially:
Vanilla planifolia, also known as, Vanilla fragrans – Madagascar
Vanilla tahitensis – French Pacific Islands
*Vanilla pompona – thought to be a V. planifolia V. pompona hybrid
*The exception to this is the unadulterated wild Peruvian Vanilla pompona found in the tropical jungles of Peru