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View Full Version : Seeds for small, exceptinally beautiful ornamental banana available (re-post)


Olafhenny
03-13-2015, 03:30 AM
_______________________________________
Note: This is a re-posting of a thread starter, which I originally posted more than 2
weeks ago. Unfortunately I did not realize, that when I moved the photos within Flickr to
the bananas album, that changed their address and consequently the photos disappeared
from the original post. I only noticed that last night, when I re-visited the thread and
decided to do the whole thing all over again


Several years ago, when I was still very new to this forum, I 'discovered' in Vietnam what I
thought was quite a find: an ornamental banana which was small enough do raise indoors to
maturity. Some of the more experienced and therefore jaded members quickly let me know,
that it was a Musa Ornata, while not as ubiquitous as some of the others, it was certainly not
unheard of and by no means a 'discovery'.

Now I am excited again about another strictly ornamental banana, which is much more
beautiful than the Ornata. I found it in Mindo, Ecuador in our landlord's garden. What struck
me was that in the same pad there were as many as 7, maybe more, PSs either in bloom or
fruit, with the B or F ranging between 2 and 4 feet above ground. I found it significant, that so
many of these plants were in B and F at the same time, which leads me to believe, that they
either grow to fruit very quickly or maintain their gorgeous B and F for along time. Either would
be a great asset. I could confirm neither with our landlord, since his English was just as poor as
my Spanish. My request for seeds yielded me a lecture, that bananas do not grow from seeds,
but spread out of rhizomes. However upon my insistence, he broke off one of the bananas and
handed it to me.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/16433195787_9a121dbe4c_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r39qzR)Platanillo Panoramio (https://flic.kr/p/r39qzR) by Golestan2 (https://www.flickr.com/people/91124680@N02/), on Flickr

This photo shows the whole pad with the B or F visible on it numbered from 1 to 7.
#5 is about 2 feet off the ground, while #2’s height is all of 4 feet.

The Spanish name, supplied by our landlord, is 'Platanillo Panoramio'. When I googled that,
among other things a map of Ecuador popped up, with a balloon right there, where I found the
specimen. Curiously enough, when I visited parks and botanic gardens in Ecuador thereafter,
I could not find any other Platanillos Panoramio in any of them.

After some more tries Mr. Google divulged a Latin name for it (there appear to be at least two
from different "discoveries"): Musa Velutina. There are a lot of seeds in each fruit, but just
to be sure, I planned on trying to con the landlord out of another fruit, just to be sure. But,
before I could do that, my wife spotted another plant at the roadside. Same beautiful red flower
and fruit. though the plant was a tad more scraggely, which is to be expected on the side of the
road vs a well maintained garden.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/16639474372_75d062683f_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rmnE2b)DSC00574 (https://flic.kr/p/rmnE2b) by Golestan2 (https://www.flickr.com/people/91124680@N02/), on Flickr
Even when the bloom is gone the fruit still looks very attractive.
I do not know for how long, but from all appearances a long time.

When I opened the fruit later, I discovered, that the seeds from the garden raised fruit were
tan, while the roadside raised banana yielded black seeds. In apples and pears darker seeds
indicate a more advanced state of ripeness. But I am surmising, that in this case we are dealing
with different cultivars of the same species. Nevertheless, I am keeping the seeds separate.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7286/16452922148_47595cdcd5_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r4Twxw)DSC00701 (https://flic.kr/p/r4Twxw) by Golestan2 (https://www.flickr.com/people/91124680@N02/), on Flickr

Sorry about the bad focus, but you get the idea.


In order to learn more about these bananas and their hardiness I would like to send a few of them
to each of the following regions:
- Coastal BC HZ 8 or 9 (humid)
- Florida HZ 9, 10 or 11 (almost tropical)
- Arizona HZ 9 or 10 (arid)

The seeds are quite large, similar in shape to lentils and about 2/3rd in diameter. They may
therefore more easy to germinate than most banana seeds (or so I hope).

It is legal to import seeds into Canada (up to 9 oz of small seeds and 18 oz of large ones,
whatever that means) In the US that is not so, but I doubt, that a few seeds of a none-edible
fruit will destroy any US agricultural banana industry.

Thus if you are interested in obtaining any of the seeds, please send me a PM with your email
and snail mail address.

I only would ask you to let me know, how you are making out with your seeds and plants.
After all, my interest in all this is to learn more about the species under different conditions

Best,
Olaf
PS: The fruit are between 4 and 5 inches long

blownz281
03-13-2015, 05:37 PM
Sent you a pm.

Olafhenny
03-13-2015, 08:56 PM
I will probably respond to the private mails (thank you) tonight.

For your info, there was some discussion on this banana in the original
picture-less thread, which does contain a bit more info. here:
http://www.bananas.org/f30/seeds-small-exceptinally-beautiful-ornamental-banana-21754.html

sunfish
03-14-2015, 12:32 AM
?

jmoore
03-14-2015, 02:35 AM
That's Musa Velutina, can there be any doubt.

Olafhenny
03-14-2015, 07:23 AM
It is very similar to M. Valentina, but not identical. The fruit is more elongated and
contains nothing remotely edible. See this thread:

http://www.bananas.org/f30/seeds-sma...ana-21754.html

sunfish
03-14-2015, 01:11 PM
Here we go again :)

Richard
03-14-2015, 01:31 PM
... It is legal to import seeds into Canada (up to 9 oz of small seeds and 18 oz of large ones, whatever that means). In the US that is not so, but I doubt, that a few seeds of a none-edible fruit will destroy any US agricultural banana industry.

That's not the reason for the regulation. Instead, it has to do with the introduction of pests and diseases.
:lurk:

Olafhenny
03-14-2015, 06:36 PM
Sorry, Richard, that would not make any sense at all.

The dirt on my shoes and on the car tires carries infinitely more potential for
spreading pests and diseases, when I cross the border, than seeds can carry.

Richard
03-14-2015, 11:06 PM
Sorry, Richard, that would not make any sense at all.
The dirt on my shoes and on the car tires carries infinitely more potential for
spreading pests and diseases, when I cross the border, than seeds can carry.


There are specific bacteria and pest eggs not found in the dirt but in flower ovums and seeds. Even seeds being shipped commercially from state to state in the U.S. must be treated. Sulfur dust is typically used at the origination site before packaging.

sunfish
03-15-2015, 01:33 PM
[QUOTE=Olafhenny;257497][SIZE="3"]Sorry, Richard, that would not make any sense at all.

The dirt on my shoes and on the car tires carries infinitely more potential for
spreading pests and diseases, when I cross the border, than seeds can carry.


Wrong answer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5X8qDDMC-o

Richard
03-15-2015, 03:11 PM
Olaf,

On the otherhand, I personally don't care if you're shipping a few seeds that you feel are disease-free. My post was only concerned with the reason for the import regulation.