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AltadenaGarden
06-14-2008, 09:13 AM
I would like the expert growers to help me with an ID of this banana plant. It may not be what I thought I purchased. I purchased this plant in the summer of 2005 from a local nursery in California. I am posting several historical photos to document the grow. If you would like me to take a close up of any part of the plant please let me know. In the background is an ice cream banana purchased at the same time June 2005.

I have had the plant for one year.(The small banana plant)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10328&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10328)

Nine months later, suffered leave damage in the winter from surprise frost(Circled in red)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10333&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10333)

Four months later, yes the sunflower grew very fast
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10327&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10327)

One year later, current time, I have had the plant for three years, I planted a pup next to it. The height of the pseudostem is 5.5 feet. I have already had two generations of ice cream plants in the same area which were over twelve feet
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10326&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10326)

Here are some close-ups, additional photos in my photo gallery
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10325&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10325)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10334&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10334)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10331&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10331)

AltadenaGarden
06-14-2008, 05:28 PM
I am adding some additional information:

1.)The leaves feel leathery and rather thick and the veins are very prominent. Much more robust than the papery feel of my Ice Cream leaves.

2.)As you can see in some photos it has open petiole canals.

3.)The blackening at the top of the pseudostem is a defining characteristic, it is repeated on the younger plant.

Gabe15
06-14-2008, 05:57 PM
Unless its a very distinct variety, it is often hard to give a proper ID until the time of flowering and fruiting.