|
Musa
X Paradisiaca- Banana (Musaceae)
This is the banana "tree" of commerce. This
"dwarf" cultivar is a good example of a giant herbaceous
growth form that is common in the moist tropical regions. Note
that this not only isn't a tree, it's not even a woody plant.
The "stem" is composed of overlapping petioles. The
male flowers (located under the big purple bracts) have a strong,
unpleasant smell. This species and many other tropical plants
are pollinated by bats. In the tropics bats are often flower
pollinators or fruit eaters (or vampires), rather than just insectivorous
as in Wisconsin. The banana originated from the Asian tropical
forest, but is now widspread. This caespitose (mat forming),
rhizomatous, tree-like herb was first imported into United States
in 1804 by Capitan John N. Chester of the Schooner Reynard. The
banana has come to be one of the most popular fruits in North
America (Costa Rica, Cuba and Jamaica), due to the cheapness
of its cultivation and transportation, ease of handling, long
keeping qualities, and adaptability to many uses. In the tropics
the leaves are commonly used as wrapping paper; stacks of them
can be found in the markets where they are cheaper than paper
or plastic and much easily recycled.
|
