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| Figure 34.—Carolina-vanilla (Trilisa odoratissima) |
Other common names.—Deertongue, vanilla leaf, vanilla plant, dog's-tongue, houndstongue.
Habitat and range.—Carolina-vanilla is found in dry or wet pine barrens from southeastern Virginia to North Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana.
Description.—This is a stout erect herb 2 to 3 feet high with smooth, thick, entire leaves 4 to 10 inches long and 1 to 1% inches wide. In August to September the small purple flowers are borne, 5 to 10 in a head, in branched, rather flat-topped clusters. The leaves, especially when bruised, have a characteristic odor of vanilla.
Part used.—This plant, while of minor importance as a drug plant, is included here because large quantities of the leaves are used in the flavoring of tobacco.