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john_ny
02-29-2008, 02:14 PM
Terms used to describe different quantities of bananas.

I think a single naner is called a finger, and several together, a hand. What is the whole big bunch? I called it a stalk. Am I correct?

Thanks.

MediaHound
02-29-2008, 02:25 PM
You can call that the inflorescence.
Stalk may refer to the pseudostem below the leaf crown, and confuse people.
I wouldn't refer to the fruit bunch as a stalk.
Some pretty good diagrams are here, in the Diagram category of the gallery.
Banana Gallery - Banana Diagrams (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=593)
Cheers

Richard
02-29-2008, 02:30 PM
John,

Your first guess "bunch" is correct. The stalk you refer to has two main parts, the peduncle and rachis. Here's a great picture drawn by Gabe

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=326&size=1

john_ny
02-29-2008, 05:36 PM
Thanks, folks, for clearing that up. Most (non-banana) people around here refer to the hand that they buy in the store, as a bunch of bananas.