anilla orchids originally came from Mexico where pollination was carried out by a local tiny bee : the melipone. In other countries, including Madagascar, it must be carried out by hand since the melipone only exists in Mexico. It took years to develop - at the end of the 19th century - a successful method of pollinating the flower by man’s hand. Each fertilized blossom will produce a bean from 5 to 9 inches.

A small thorn of citrus tree is used to introduce the pollen between the male and the female organs of the orchid.

Hand pollination : a skilled worker can pollinate up to 2,000 flowers a day.

Because the operation is so delicate and critical it is usually entrusted to women’s smaller hands. Each blossom lasts only a day. If not pollinated by the afternoon, the orchid will die by nightfall. Therefore vines are inspected daily and pollination starts at the break of dawn.

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