Although there are hundreds of varieties of bananas in cultivation, their taxonomy has been contentious because of their ancient domestication, sterility, hybridization, and the use of diverse common names to refer to the same variety. This makes bananas especially vulnerable to pests and diseases, as a novel pathogen or pest could quickly decimate a variety if it were to exploit a genetic weakness among the clones. ⦠They do best when planted in groups rather than as single specimens. Corrections? Most banana cultivars are hybrids of these two species. I ⦠Banana trees are a very large herb plant that yields berries called bananas. Strong winds can play havoc on the banana leaf, ⦠The banana is the fruit of the banana tree of which there are several species. For export, the desired degree of maturity attained before harvest depends upon distance from market and type of transportation, and ripening is frequently induced artificially after shipment by exposure to ethylene gas. Asimina triloba, the American papaw, pawpaw, paw paw, or paw-paw, among many regional names, is a small deciduous tree native to the eastern United States and Canada, producing a large, yellowish-green to brown fruit. As most cultivated varieties of bananas are either interspecific hybrids of Musa acuminata and M. balbisiana or hybrids of the subspecies of M. acuminata, a genome-based system has led to an overhaul of the nomenclature of domesticated bananas. Shortly after the discovery of America, bananas were taken from the Canary Islands to the New World, where they were first established in Hispaniola and soon spread to other islands and the mainland. In some cultures, banana peels are used for stuffing in the same way you would stuff a pepper. This species can serve as a specimen plant, especially in temperate gardens since most banana trees grow in the tropics. Starting new plants from the main clump is a rather easy procedure that requires only a spade to break off a sucker or "pup" from the main pseudostem. Suckers and divisions of the rhizome are used as planting material; the first crop ripens within 10 to 15 months, and thereafter fruit production is more or less continuous. Omissions? The more delicate inner petals are soaked in acidic water and eaten raw or cooked. Hardy banana trees like to be grown in full to partial sun and well drained, moist soil. The banana is a perennial plant that replaces itself. Considered the largest grass on earth, the banana tree is a very interesting tropical plant that can be grown even in non-tropical areas if a few precautions are taken.. Banana plants are often mistaken for trees or palms â they are actually herbs. If you live near a banana growing region, this is the variety you see in the plantations. From habitat to flowering to the structure of the plant itself, banana tree facts cover the unusual to the mundane. Desirable commercial bunches of bananas consist of nine hands or more and weigh 22â65 kg (49â143 pounds). Bananas are a favorite tropical fruit, but aside from that little tidbit of information, there are probably lots of things you don't know about bananas. This is done by digging straight ⦠Facts About Banana Trees. Bananas are thought of as a tropical fruit, but you can raise edible bananas in a fairly wide range of climates by choosing the right varieties. Where Do Banana Trees Grow? Java Blue, is also known as Paka or Vata in Fiji, Cenizo in Central America and the West Indies and Krie in the Philippines. The popular Cavendish, for example, is referred to as AAA âDwarf Cavendish,â where âAAAâ signifies its triploidy (three sets of chromosomes) as well as its derivation from M. acuminata. The yellow grocery store fruit known as a banana is only one member of a much larger family. You might have been calling it a fruit, but it is a berry, not a fruit. Habitat Bananas are indigenous to the tropical portions of India, Southeast Asia and northern Australia, and were brought to South America by the Portuguese in the early 16th century. Updates? Although many varieties of banana have the appearance of a small tree, the banana is actually a perennial herbaceous shrub. The banana plants that you can find in Southeast Asia are diverse. Bananas are both a fruit and not a fruit. Well, they are and they arenât. Nutritional Value Banana plants are native to Southeast Asia, and are actually not trees. It can grow as large as 15 meters high. The banana plant is the largest herbaceous flowering plant. Each purple-red bract curls, exposing the clusters of pistillate (female) flowers underneath.