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Old 08-11-2009, 09:03 PM   #4 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi
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Default Re: ensete ventricosum "musa ensete"

Well, I'm no expert on seed germination (though I am trying to germ. some Ensete superbum), but I can give you some information on EV. Not sure how much you know about them, so bear with me if I'm telling you things you already know.

First off, just to clarify for you, it is not a musa at all. 'Musa' and 'Ensete' are both the genus part of the genus-species Latin names for the classification of plants/animals. The species part is more specific than the genus, but banana plants are either musa or ensete (which are called 'false bananas') and then are broken down more specifically by species (such as musa cavendish or ensete ventricosum).

Secondly, it will get MUCH larger than 5 feet...even in a container indoors. Mature EV get about 20 feet tall when grown in the ground. They will be smaller in a pot, varying in height depending on the size of the pot. Five feet is an understatement, though.

Here are the wiki pages for both the Ensete Ventricosum (Abyssininan Banana) and the Ensete Ventricosum subspecies 'Maurelii (Red Abyssininan Banana). I'm not sure which one your seeds are, but sounds like you have the regular EV.

Ensetes are great plants. They produce seeded, inedible fruit and EV are grown in Ethiopia for their large corm which is eaten. They grow slightly differently than musas, but look very similar. An important distinction between Musas and Ensetes is that Ensetes do not produce pups/suckers as Musas do. They are propegated by seeds only and do not work for tissue culture (as musas do). EV 'maurelii' can be chopped off at the base when mature and if the growth tip is mutilated a bit, they will grow into many new plants (see pictures in the wiki).

Sorry for the novel, but hope the information helps you with your plants! Enjoy them and best of luck germinating your seeds!
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