Musa acuminata

Read about Musa acuminata in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Musa cavendishii, Lamb. (M. chinensis, Sweet. M. sinensis, Sagot. M. humilis, Perr.?). Chinese Dwarf Banana. Dwarf Jamaica. Whole plant 4-6ft. high, stoloniferous: st. 2-3 ft. high: lvs. 6-8 in a dense rosette, spreading, oblong, 2-3 ft. long, 1 ft. wide, rounded at base, glaucous; petiole short, stout, deeply grooved; blades when young spotted and blotched with red: spike dense, short, drooping; bracts red-brown or dark, lower 6 in. long, upper 3-4 in. long; male fls. and their bracts persistent; calyx yellowish white, 1 in. long with 5 obtuse lobes; free petals about ½ in. long: fr. as many as 200-250 in a bunch, oblong, 6-angled, slightly curved, 4-5 in. long, 1 ½ in or more diam., obtuse, gradually narrowed to the sessile base, seedless, edible; skin rather thick; flesh delicately fragrant. S. China. Intro. from Mauritius in 1827. P.M. 3:51. Gn. 32, p. 243; 40, p. 263; 44.p. 496; 50, p. 161. G.C. III. 22:167. —Stands more cold than most bananas, and its dwarf growth readily allows for protection. Good for shipping and may be planted N. Extensively grown along the coast of the southern states and in the W. Indies. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.