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View Full Version : Is this an ornamental banana? What type?


MorelandBE
08-17-2013, 02:44 PM
We saw this plant on a trip to Panama last month. We were in a place called El Valle de Anton, which is some distance west of the canal. I was told it was a type of heliconia plant (which are apparently related to bananas, somehow), but I didn't see anything like it when I Googled "heliconia". Now I'm guessing it might be one of the Musa species of ornamental bananas? Velutina maybe?

I am only an amateur birder (that bird in the photo is called a bananaquit), but know very little about plants. I'd really appreciate whatever help I can get.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=54228&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=54228)

LilRaverBoi
08-17-2013, 04:44 PM
Looks like musa velutina or musa ornata. It is definitely not a heliconia, and they are not really that closely related. They are in the same 'order' but aren't in the same 'family' as far as taxonomy is concerned. So kinda related, but not super closely.

Dalmatiansoap
08-17-2013, 05:54 PM
Yup, its Velutina.
Musa Velutina - Bananas Wiki (http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Musa_Velutina)
:woohoonaner:

MorelandBE
08-20-2013, 04:16 PM
Wow, I want to thank both of you for your help - LilRaverBoi for explaining the relationship between heliconias and bananas, and Dalmatiansoap for giving a link to more information. And you were both so quick in confirming my guess. I really appreciate this.