Common Name: Plantain

General Information

Musa balbisiana is an evergreen, perennial plant growing 1.5 - 6 metres tall with leaves that can be 2 metres long and 60cm wide[]. 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[].
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.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

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

Habitat

Forests, on forest edges, in ravines and on water sides[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	5.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the humid tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 23 - 28°c, but can tolerate 16 - 38°c[]. Mature growth can be killed by temperatures of 8°c or lower, whilst young growth can be killed at 12°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,300 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 5,000mm[].
Prefers a position in full sun or light shade[]. Succeeds in most moderate to fertile soils that are well-drained[]. Requires a position sheltered from strong winds[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. The fruit is not often eaten raw, being unpopular because of its seediness[]. The ripe fruit is boiled, baked, fried, or roasted[]. Juice from the ripe fruits is mixed with sugar and then fermented into a type of vinegar[, ]. Young fruits are used like green papaya in salads and pickles[]. The green, yellow or brown fruits can be 10 - 25cm long. They can be seeded or seedless[].

The underground stem can be eaten as a vegetable[].
The inner stem is sometimes eaten in curries[].

Male flower clusters - sometimes used as an ingredient in curries[].

Medicinal

The fruit has medicinal properties[].

Other Uses

The leaves are used for wrapping foods, for cooking and as plates[, ].

Fibres can be obtained from the stem[].

The plant yields a dye[].

Propagation

Seed -

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Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?