View Full Version : Mislabeled Rajapuri?
JustAGuy
06-15-2015, 01:23 AM
Hi All,
I bought this banana at HD with the wholesalers sticker saying "musa rajapuri".
However it looks like that variety isn't supposed to have any variegation in it.
Any ideas what this could be?
View image: 2299 (http://postimg.org/image/sec66ivvz/)
I imagine it's one of LaVerne's other varieties (they are the wholesaler)
All Subtropicals (http://www.lavernenursery.com/products/subtropicals.html)
Richard
06-15-2015, 01:47 AM
Thank you for the photo and the link to La Verne. From 2005 to 2012 La Verne was one of my suppliers in a nursery business.
La Verne has multiple problems with their named banana cultivars. For example the "Goldfinger" they sell is actually Namwa -- which is not named elsewhere in their catalog. Another problem I noticed in general was that when under pressure to make a delivery, they would supply just about anything on their lot that the receiver might accept. Thus I sent back countless ordered evergreen perennial trees in order to obtain my actual order. They learned not to try and B.S. me. However, I believe the practice continues elsewhere -- particularly at big box stores where rarely anyone in garden knows what they are looking at.
In support of La Verne I would point out that some bananas are variegated in juvenile stage and not in adult stage. I've not grown Raji Puri so I can't verify your condition.
Also in support of La Verne I'd say they supply a number of near-tropicals which are simply not available elsewhere. Some of this tradition is due to Tom Spellman's tenure there a few decades ago, but generally I believe at some level the company has good intentions.
siege2050
06-15-2015, 08:22 AM
Rajapuri does have heavy markings when young, at least the one I have does lol
I have a Rajapuri and my doesn't have the red spots. It currently has 2 pups and I haven't seen any red spots on those either.
JustAGuy
06-15-2015, 12:57 PM
Thanks for the replies guys. Richard thanks for the info on LaVerne. I've bought Loquat and Passionfruit from them, good quality stock.
Disappointing that they would knowingly ship mislabeled plants. I emailed them about this plant I'll let you know if they reply.
If I knew this was a dwarf fruiting banana I would plant it. It's going in a space that suits a dwarf better.
Don't know what to do.
Siege, have you gotten fruit from your plant? Are you sure it's Rajapuri?
blownz281
06-15-2015, 05:32 PM
Mine has never had spots.
siege2050
06-16-2015, 09:55 AM
No, not entirely sure its rajapuri, but I once asked on here if Rajapuri had markings as I was not sure either, and a lot of people told me it does when small. I do know mine choke like crazy on leaves when its cold, and had to cut it back a few times, and this seems to be a trait of Rajapuri as well, and its not DC as I have that. I had die back of the pstem in the greenhouse this last winter so now just have pups coming up, and one I separated, I will try to post a pic in a bit. Mine do not make the markings unless in strong sunlight, your plant appears to be a match for mine, the same petioles. and the shape of the leaf at the attachment area that is more rounded than squared, same blue green color, but who knows what we really have, hopefully other people with fruiting Rajapuri will come along with more info. If you do a search of the photo galleries, you will find others with rajapuri with winespots as well, this is someone elses photo
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55072&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55072&si=rajapuri&what=allfields)
siege2050
06-16-2015, 02:00 PM
Here is a pic of one of mine, Rajapuri, or not Rajapuri?, that is the question lol
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58064&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58064)
Worm_Farmer
06-16-2015, 02:18 PM
I have a Rajapuri and my doesn't have the red spots. It currently has 2 pups and I haven't seen any red spots on those either.
Ditto
cincinnana
06-17-2015, 06:56 AM
I picked one up for my Seven Dwarfs collection.... at Pinders Nursery.
No spots.
Here is the photo.
https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7736/18251930716_485cf62dd1_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/tNRV7C)100_2242 (https://flic.kr/p/tNRV7C) by Hostafarian (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/), on Flickr
siege2050
06-17-2015, 02:33 PM
Hmmm, now wondering what I have lol
siege2050
06-17-2015, 02:41 PM
I wonder if there is some confusion about the names Rajapuri, and Pisang Raja?
JustAGuy
06-27-2015, 10:05 PM
I got this reply from LaVerne:
"Hello Kevin,
Thank you for contacting La Verne Nursery.
I looked into the banana situation and there were a number of bananas that were mislabeled. I would guess it is a Cavindish since that is what the bed was mixed with here.
Thanks you for bringing this to our attention."
Kind of what I figured. Meh, I can buy cavendish at store don't really want to grow one. But it is a dwarf and the leaves are nice. I stuck it in the ground, seems to be happy there.
Snarkie
06-28-2015, 04:13 PM
Pisang RajaAm I the only one that misreads this every time I see it? :ha:
siege2050
06-28-2015, 05:35 PM
Those crazy Indonesians haha!
I don't think thanking you for bringing it to their attention was an adequate response. They already knew they had a problem but figured most people are too stupid to know the difference between varieties. "Gee, you caught us. Oh, well" is just wrong IMO. (Same issue with figs--I honestly don't care what a seller says they're selling, I never depend on their label.)
Snarkie
06-28-2015, 06:13 PM
I don't think thanking you for bringing it to their attention was an adequate response. They already knew they had a problem but figured most people are too stupid to know the difference between varieties. "Gee, you caught us. Oh, well" is just wrong IMO. (Same issue with figs--I honestly don't care what a seller says they're selling, I never depend on their label.)I concur. They should have offered to replace it free of charge, shipping included.
venturabananas
06-29-2015, 09:16 AM
...I would point out that some bananas are variegated in juvenile stage and not in adult stage. I've not grown Raji Puri so I can't verify your condition.
I grow Rajapuri and the water suckers can have wine spots, though they are relatively light and not like the very dark and extensive ones shown in some of the photos in this thread. The sword pups and older plants don't have those marks.
geosulcata
06-30-2015, 11:21 AM
http://s17.postimg.org/3thrja2jf/image.jpg
http://s17.postimg.org/93mqakmsb/image.jpg
http://s17.postimg.org/689n3pisb/image.jpg
These are my real raja puri bananas (have been growing them for over 15 years). It doesn't look like any of the photos on this tread are Raja Puri
geosulcata
06-30-2015, 11:21 AM
I picked one up for my Seven Dwarfs collection.... at Pinders Nursery.
No spots.
Here is the photo.
https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7736/18251930716_485cf62dd1_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/tNRV7C)100_2242 (https://flic.kr/p/tNRV7C) by Hostafarian (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/), on Flickr
Those don't look like Raja Puri to me.
siege2050
06-30-2015, 12:05 PM
Those don't look like Raja Puri to me.
Thats what I was thinking, too much red, but there seems there is a lot of confusion about Raja Puri
venturabananas
06-30-2015, 09:42 PM
...but there seems there is a lot of confusion about Raja Puri
There's just a lot of mislabeling of banana plants that are sold, but plenty of people grow Rajapuri.
There's just a lot of mislabeling of banana plants that are sold, but plenty of people grow Rajapuri.Yep, I'm also growing it. Do I know for sure I have an/a RP? Nope. But I have a banana purported to be such so I'm golden. Right? Shadows of the ficus nomenclature and swords drawn arguments that I, at my doddering old age, have no desire to revisit...next thing I'm raising are amoeba. :ha:
Hamakua
07-24-2015, 01:24 PM
Those don't look like Raja Puri to me.
They look more like Pisang Raja
JustAGuy
06-23-2016, 08:17 PM
One year later:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/46978620@N03/27589353760/in/dateposted-public/" title="Raja Puri or Cavendish?"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7455/27589353760_c225590ddd_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Raja Puri or Cavendish?"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/46978620@N03/27866753675/in/dateposted-public/" title="Banana Pups"><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7226/27866753675_5222d7171c_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Banana Pups"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The pups have some markings, not as distinct as the original plant last year. The mature leaves have no variegation. It's one year old now and the main stem is around 7 ft, include the leaves this thing is close to 12-14 ft I think.
So, Raja Puri or Dwarf Cavendish? Wondering if after one year it changes some opinions.
Tytaylor77
06-24-2016, 10:16 AM
Bump. Anyone have any thoughts. I have a similar (fake raja puri). Took me 3 tries to get a real one.
venturabananas
06-25-2016, 01:45 PM
It's not Rajapuri (too slender) or any Cavendish variety (petiole canals are not open enough), from what I see in the photos. Looks more like a Pisang Awak variety to me (which are widely available -- e.g., "fake" Ice Cream), but I can't see the petiole canals very well, which would help distinguish an ABB variety like that from an AAB variety (like Brazilian or Manzano).
JustAGuy
06-25-2016, 07:23 PM
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/46978620@N03/27294194353/in/dateposted-public/" title="Banana Leaf"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7120/27294194353_ef0bfe65fe_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Banana Leaf"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/46978620@N03/27830311151/in/dateposted-public/" title="Banana Petiole"><img src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7447/27830311151_80f6e9a709_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Banana Petiole"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Some close ups...dang it's probably not even a dwarf..... LaVerne!!
JustAGuy
11-20-2016, 09:37 PM
1.5 years later mystery banana is getting it's first flower. Going into winter probably not the best time but sill cool to see...
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/46978620@N03/31110462676/in/dateposted-public/" title="mislabeled banana"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5629/31110462676_c318c11294_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="mislabeled banana"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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