Musa x paradisiaca L.

Banana; Plantains

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

This is a triploid hybrid between M. acuminata and M. balbisiana both of SE Asia. Although fruits, may develop, they are without viable seed. This is due to the hybrid background of the cultivar. Banana is a large introduced herbaceous plant in the Banana family—Musaceae. It is a triploid hybrid developed in cultivation from crosses of Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. Both of the parents are native to south Asia. Although fruits develop in the hybrid, they are without viable seed. This is due to the hybrid background of the cultivar. Banana plants are often cultivated in south Alabama, and were first collected in 2011. The two collections from Baldwin and Mobile counties thus far may represent waifs and not a permanently naturalized element of the Alabama flora. Although plants may flower in Alabama, the growing season is too short for fruit to fully develop. Banana plants consist of an underground rhizome that gives rise to a cluster of pseudostems ranging from 7-30 feet in height when mature. The pseudostem consists of the fused bases of the leaves. Leaves are petiolate, oblong to oblong-elliptic in outline, with entire margins. The leaf blade is from 1-2 meters in length, and is often split to the midrib by strong winds. Each pseudostem produces a single elongated inflorescence. Pistillate flowers are produced towards the base of the inflorescence and staminate flowers are produced towards the apex. Flowers are produced in clusters. Staminate flowers are subtended by imbricate pink/purple/red bracts that form a bud-like structure at the apex of the inflorescence. The flowers are tubular and yellow, green, or white in color. The fruit is a cylindrical berry. After fruiting the pseudostem dies and is replaced by new shoots arising from the rhizome. Bananas with starchy fruit that are cooked before eating are called plantains. Almost all Banana’s consumed in the United States today are from a single cultivar known as “Cavendish”. Since they are propagated from

Though often cultivated in the southern tier counties of Alabama, this species was first collected in an uncultivated situation by Howard Horne in 2011. The two collections thus far may represent waifs and not a permnanently naturalized element of the Alabama flora.

Not Native

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