Musaceae FAMILY

Musa balbisiana

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

1/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Musa balbisiana is an evergreen, perennial plant growing 1.5 - 6 metres tall with leaves that can be 2 metres long and 60cm wide[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. The plant produces a clump of large pseudostems up to 30cm in diameter at the base, that make it appear rather tree-like. These stems grow up from a perennial stoloniferous rootstock[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. This species is one of the parents of the cultivated bananas and plantains. It is often cultivated for its edible fruit and various other uses.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeE. Asia - China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea.

HabitatForests, on forest edges, in ravines and on water sides[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ].