Vanilla imperialis Kraenzl.

Epiphytic, glabrous, leafy liane of indeterminate length, with roots of various lengths arising at nodes.. Internodes up to 15 cm. long, 2.5 cm. diameter, succulent, terete, 4-channelled, dull bluish green, with single leaf arising at each node opposite or subtending each adventitious root.. Leaves fleshy, broadly elliptic-oblong to ovate, apiculate or subobtuse, 15–25 cm. long, 8–12 cm. broad, dull bluish green.. Inflorescences axillary, sessile, usually erect, densely many-flowered, unbranched, up to 15 cm. long; bracts ovate, obtuse or subacute, up to 3 cm. long, closely imbricating.. Flowers often opening singly, persisting for 1–2 days, yellow or cream, lip heavily blotched deep rose to purple especially on inner surface towards apex; pedicel and ovary up to 11 cm. long.. Sepals and petals subequal, elliptic-lanceolate, acute, up to 8 cm. long and 1.8 cm. broad.. Lip up to 6 cm. long, basal part united to column nearly to anther, forming a funnel-like tube, obscurely 3-lobed, with side lobes broadly rounded and enveloping column-apex, middle lobe acute, apical margin markedly crenulate and folded with thick long papillae at extreme apex; disc of lip bearing dense tuft of fine hairs; tube formed by lip and column hairy inside.. Column adnate to lip for greater part of length, arcuate, up to 4 cm. long, hairy on lower surface.. Capsule up to 25 cm. long and 1.5 cm. broad.