| + | Musa ensete, Gmel. (M. abyssinica, Hort. Ensete edule, Horan.). Abyssinian Banana. Fig. 2403. Whole plant 30-40 ft. high, not stoloniferous: st. 13-20 ft. high, swollen at the base: lvs. oblong, acute, often 20 ft. long by 3 ft. wide; midrib red: bracts densely imbricated, 9-12 in. long, dark claret-brown: spike erect; fls. whitish, 1 ½ -2 in. long, often 20 or more in a cluster; calyx 3-lobed; free petal short, 3-lobed: fr. coriaceous, dry, 2-3 in. long; seeds 1—4, black, glossy, nearly 1 in. diam., with a prominent raised border around the hilum. Mountains of Abyssinia. B.M. 5223, 5224. R.H. 1861. p. 124, note; 1888, p. 32. G.C. II. 15:435; 21:19; III 16:697. Gn. 47, p. 5; 48, p. 406. V. 5:53. F.E. 11:470. G.M. 52:655; 54:375.—The largest known, as well as one of the oldest (being represented in ancient Egyptian sculptures), and most widely cult. of all decorative bananas. Cult. in S. Calif, and Fla. Prop. entirely from seed in hotbeds. Yields a good fiber. |
| Musa ventricosa, Welw. (M. africana, Bull, young form). Whole plant 8-10 ft. high, not stoloniferous: sts. much swollen, 4 ft. diam. at base: lvs. oblanceolate oblong, 4-5 ft. long, thick in texture, bright green: midrib pale red: spike drooping; calyx entire; free petal entire, 1/3 in. long: fr. coriaceous, dry, 2-3 in. long; seeds about 1 in. diam., angled by pressure. Angola, in rocky places near rivulets.—Cult. in S. Calif. Tender but more ornamental than M. Ensete. | | Musa ventricosa, Welw. (M. africana, Bull, young form). Whole plant 8-10 ft. high, not stoloniferous: sts. much swollen, 4 ft. diam. at base: lvs. oblanceolate oblong, 4-5 ft. long, thick in texture, bright green: midrib pale red: spike drooping; calyx entire; free petal entire, 1/3 in. long: fr. coriaceous, dry, 2-3 in. long; seeds about 1 in. diam., angled by pressure. Angola, in rocky places near rivulets.—Cult. in S. Calif. Tender but more ornamental than M. Ensete. |