Musa basjoo

Botanical Description

Musa basjoo is a robust, herbaceous perennial plant, more or less evergreen in suitable climates. It produces a large, thick stem (actually a pseudostem composed of closely packed leaf sheaths) that can be 250 - 400cm tall. The large leaves are around 200 - 300cm long with a petiole around 30cm long[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. With its ornamental and tropical appearance, it is often cultivated as an ornamental in areas too cold to grow true banana plants.