Banana Paradise

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Paradise banana (lat. Mosa x paradisiaca) - a herbaceous perennial plant of the genus Banana (lat. Musa) of the eponymous family Banana (lat. Musaceae). You will not find such a species in the wild, since this plant is man-made. It is a hybrid of two wild Banana species. Man was able to transform the fruits of wild plants, depriving them of the nutritious pulp of seeds, which were in large quantities in it, reducing the edible attractiveness of the fruit. Today, various varieties of this species feed the whole world, giving people a fragrant, tender and nutritious pulp. Among tropical fruits, Banana is the best seller, leaving the second and third places for citrus and Pineapple.

What's in your name

The Latin name of the genus "Musa" is most likely taken from the Arabic language, in which the plant and its wonderful fruits are called a consonant word. As for the name "Banana", its roots go back to such distant times, about which modern Mankind does not know so much. However, the life of our ancient ancestors is wedged into modern life by many things and words, including the name of the plant "Banana", which sounds the same in the most different languages of our many-sided planet.

The specific epithet "paradisiaca" (heavenly) was assigned to the species of the Banana clan for the heavenly taste of the fruits, since man only improved their taste, but the Most High created Banana after all, sharing a piece of heavenly Paradise with man so that he does not forget what he lost by his disobedience.

The progenitors of the Banana of Paradise

The first domesticated Banana, as suggested by botanists, was the Musa acuminata, which was grown by farmers in Southeast Asia. When this domesticated species came to the northwest, where Banana Balbisiana (lat. Musa balbisiana) grew in abundance, hybrids from the two species emerged. Later, hundreds of varieties were bred from the hybrid with magnificent edible fruits devoid of seeds.

Description

Although Banana, with its powerful appearance, capable of holding huge bundles of heavy fruits, gives the impression of a strong tree, in terms of its morphological characteristics it belongs to herbaceous plants, being a large herb.

The aerial part of the plant is a "false stem" or "pseudostem", since it is not an ordinary shoot, but is formed by large leaves, the bases of which are firmly fused together. A very succulent succulent pseudostem is a cylinder of leaf stalks. When the plant reaches maturity, its height varies from two to nine meters. Petioles are born from an underground fleshy rhizome or corm.

Leaves, reaching a length of almost three meters with a leaf plate width of sixty centimeters, smooth and delicate, oblong or elliptical in shape, with fleshy petioles. The leaves are arranged spirally, emerging one leaf per week. The surface of the leaf plate can be completely green, or have dark red spots, or be green on top and reddish purple below.

From each pseudostem, one flowering stem is born. The process of inflorescence formation and its transformation into fruits is a whole fascinating natural performance, at the end of which a powerful bunch of fruits appears, the weight of which can reach sixty kilograms. The flowers in the inflorescence are female, hermaphrodite and male. Each has its own place in the inflorescence.

The color of the peel of the fruit can be green, red, yellow, depending on the variety.

After fruiting, the pseudostem dies. But around the base of the plant, outgrowths arise, forming a cluster or "stool". An older shoot replaces the dead plant, and this process of inheritance continues indefinitely, maintaining the long life of the Banana.

Healing abilities

It is not for nothing that this species was called “paradise”. All parts of the plant are healing pantries for humans.

Flowers help with bronchitis and dysentery, heal ulcers and make life easier for diabetics.

Astringent vegetable juice relieves irritation from insect bites, relieves attacks of hysteria and epilepsy, and helps the digestive system.

Young leaves treat skin problems, and roots are used for digestive disorders.

The peel and pulp of the fruit are natural antibiotics and antifungal agents.