Musa troglodytarum
L.
Musaceae
Musa fehi Bertero ex Vieill.
Musa paradisiaca dorsata G.Forst.
Musa paradisiaca troglodytarum (L.) K.Schum
Musa rectispica Nakai
Musa sapientum troglodytarum (L.) Baker
Musa seemannii F.Muell.
Musa uranoscopos Colla
Musa uranoscopos Lour.
Musa uranoscopus Seem.
Common Name: Fei Banana
The fruit of this banana species is high in beta-carotene and provitamin A carotenoids
Photograph by: IFCP
Public domain
The fruit of this banana species is high in beta-carotene and provitamin A carotenoids
Photograph by: IFCP
Public domain
General Information
Musa troglodytarum is a large, perennial plant producing a clump of stems 5 - 12 metres tall[
]. Looking somewhat like a tree, it is a herbaceous plant whose top growth dies after flowering, to be replaced by new growth from the rootstock. The plant has very large leaves 200 - 400cm long[
]
The plant is widely cultivated or semi-cultivated throughout the Pacific Islands[
], where it is utilised for food and materials.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Pacific Islands - Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands. Naturalized in many other Pacific Islands.
Habitat
Not known as a wild plant, it is probably derived in cultivation from M. Maclayi.
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Perennial |
| Height | 8.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Semi-cultivated |
Cultivation Details
A plant of hot, wet, tropical lowlands[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
].
Bunches of the fruits are sometimes buried in mud to hasten the ripening process[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw or cooked[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
]. A starchy flavour[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
], they are better when cooked or roasted[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
]. The very ripe fruits develop a sweeter flavour and are sometimes eaten raw[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. The fruit is 10 - 20cm long[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
]. The yellow flesh of the fruit discolours the urine of people who eat it[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The reddish violet sap of the plant is occasionally used as a dye[
]. It is used to prepare a purple dye for bark cloth[
339- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
-
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
].
The large leaves are used as plates, to wrap food for cooking and for making cigarette paper[
,
339- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
-
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
].
The black stems used in weaving with hala[
].
Propagation
Seed -
Division.
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
