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aruzinsky
04-10-2017, 11:01 AM
Suppose that there was a plant in the banana family that looked like a banana plant with beautiful variegated foliage but, it was very difficult to grow well? Would you even try to grow it?

I call your attention to heliconia 'rubricaulis':

http://www.general-cathexis.com/images/HeliconiaRubricaulis.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/GarySiegel/oahu2005297.jpg

The species name is confused, usually indica, illustris, or spectabilis. To buy it, you will have to show an image to a grower, e.g., one in Hawaii. It is very cold sensitive, has a weak root system and is an unstable chimera.

Here is it's introduction to western civilization in 1883:
http://www.general-cathexis.com/images/BullCatalog1.jpg
http://www.general-cathexis.com/images/BullCatalog2.jpg

This is heliconia 'spectabilis' which is relatively easy to grow:
http://www.general-cathexis.com/images/HeliconiaSpectabilis.jpg

There are many other solid red leaved heliconia but a unique characteristic of spectabilis is that the leaf margins are wavy with a period of about 0.25 inches.

Tytaylor77
04-10-2017, 08:18 PM
My vote is for a solid white variegated AEAE it would be harder lol. Could you imagine eating some bright solid white bananas!

a.hulva@coxinet.net
04-11-2017, 11:25 PM
Doesn't look like a banana plant to me, but what do I know.

edwmax
04-12-2017, 07:55 AM
It's not. But a close relation to Bananas and Birds. There is Strelitiziaceae (Birds of Parsdise), Musaceae (need I say it: BANANA), and Heliconiaceae (False Birds of Paradise). This family is usually nick named 'Parkeets'.

cincinnana
04-12-2017, 09:15 PM
Suppose that there was a plant in the banana family that looked like a banana plant with beautiful variegated foliage but, it was very difficult to grow well? Would you even try to grow it?

I call your attention to heliconia 'rubricaulis':

http://www.general-cathexis.com/images/HeliconiaRubricaulis.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/GarySiegel/oahu2005297.jpg

The species name is confused, usually indica, illustris, or spectabilis. To buy it, you will have to show an image to a grower, e.g., one in Hawaii. It is very cold sensitive, has a weak root system and is an unstable chimera.

Here is it's introduction to western civilization in 1883:
http://www.general-cathexis.com/images/BullCatalog1.jpg
http://www.general-cathexis.com/images/BullCatalog2.jpg

This is heliconia 'spectabilis' which is relatively easy to grow:
http://www.general-cathexis.com/images/HeliconiaSpectabilis.jpg

There are many other solid red leaved heliconia but a unique characteristic of spectabilis is that the leaf margins are wavy with a period of about 0.25 inches.
Those are beautiful plants....

aruzinsky
04-17-2017, 10:50 AM
It's not. But a close relation to Bananas and Birds. There is Strelitiziaceae (Birds of Parsdise), Musaceae (need I say it: BANANA), and Heliconiaceae (False Birds of Paradise). This family is usually nick named 'Parkeets'.

From

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musaceae

"The family has been practically universally recognized by taxonomists, although with differing circumscriptions. Older circumscriptions of the family commonly included the genera now included in Heliconiaceae and Strelitziaceae."

So, I am old school. I have better things to do than keep up with the changing opinions of low IQ taxonomists. There is even a possibility that the Old World Heliconia are a different genera than the New World Heliconia. But, a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.

a.hulva@coxinet.net
04-17-2017, 12:10 PM
Some people just don't listen

aruzinsky
04-19-2017, 10:38 AM
Here are images of more Old World heliconia cultivars:

'Aureo-Striata':
http://www.vaneron.com/images/products/25b2822c2f5a3230abfadd476e8b04c9.jpg
This is probably the easiest to grow because it has the lowest humidity requirement. I successfully grew it planted in the ground outdoors during the summer in the Chicago area.

Maybe, 'Bangkok':
http://www.lilathaigarden.com/user_file/120828044546-0.jpg
This looks a little different than the one I grew, but, 'Bangkok' definitely has cream colored blotches.

'Rubra':
http://www.general-cathexis.com/images/HeliconiaRubra.jpg
This has relatively wide cupped leaves. This image is a scan from A.B. Graph's Tropica. Despite the caption, it is my plant with my back yard lawn in the background and I lent the photo to Mr. Graph. I am uncertain whether the original was a 35mm slide or a Polaroid. If it was a Polaroid, it is now badly faded. Anyway, it is too much work to find and scan the original.

Unlike New World Heliconia, Old World Heliconia have bracts that are the same color as the leaves and, as such, are inconspicuous on the plant. The 'rubricaulis' bracts even have stripes similar to those on the leaves. Some, if not many, Old World Heliconia are pollinated by bats. I suspect that it is impossible to cross Old World and New World Heliconia but that is only my guess.

Gabe15
04-19-2017, 12:51 PM
Suppose there was a true banana with prettier red variegated leaves out there....

branana
08-22-2018, 01:39 PM
Suppose there was a true banana with prettier red variegated leaves out there....


there is.. its called a siam ruby red banana. i have one. its beautiful

aruzinsky
08-22-2018, 02:10 PM
there is.. its called a siam ruby red banana. i have one. its beautiful
Do you think that this:

https://www.floridahillnursery.com/image/cache/catalog/uploads/Siam-Ruby_2-600x600.JPG

is more beautiful than this?:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/GarySiegel/oahu2005297.jpg

Musa 'Siam Ruby' is certainly a lot easier to grow.

aruzinsky
08-22-2018, 02:50 PM
There is also a New World heliconia,
heliconia zebrina:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41m6t2yTXAL.jpg

which resembles calathea zebrina:

http://commons.hortipedia.com/images/0/04/Calathea_zebrina.jpg