|
Banana Science!
I have noticed that bananas have three distinct segments into which they can be separated. Whenever I bring this up I am hounded by the ignorant clods who just want to eat there bananas in peace; the only person I have ever met who also noticed this was a bus-driver who may well have been humouring me (Me: Hey buddy, have you ever noticed that bananas have three distinct segments into which they can be separated?
Karl (the bus-driver): Yes. Yes I have. Now would you kindly get off my bus.) So, my question is: Can anybody out there in Banana Land explain to me why this is so, the segments, not my banishment from the local public transport-services, giving reference to the 'foetal'(or the banana equivalent) development of the banana. Regards, Sam. |
Re: Banana Science!
Welcome Sam!
Each one of those segments is called a locule, bananas have trilocular ovaries (each ovary, aka fruit, has three locules...pretty simple). Bananas are monocots, and monocots generally have floral parts in multiples of three. So to confirm your observation, what you are seeing is the divisions of the three locules within the single ovary. A fun way to exaggerate this is to peel a banana and push down directly into the fruit from the top, the locules should all split apart rather nicely. |
Re: Banana Science!
Welcome to the org, Sam! You'll find plenty of like-minded inquisitive folks here, so jump right in.
|
Re: Banana Science!
Welcome to the organization Sam!
Your questions are welcome in this community and help others by adding to the body of knowledge. :2239: |
Re: Banana Science!
Welcome!
In all honesty, I never noticed that before. Sadly, I don't have a banana right now to check it out on! |
Re: Banana Science!
I'll go pick a Cavendish of the plant right now and see.
|
Re: Banana Science!
I first noticed these 3 segments/locules when I was a little boy. I liked to take my bananas apart and eat each segment separately. Now I just jam the banana in my mouth.
|
Re: Banana Science!
Quote:
Please post a photo.... |
Re: Banana Science!
Quote:
|
Re: Banana Science!
I'm experiencing high levels of zone envy here .... along with learning new things. I'll now get up and go over to the fruit bowl and try this out with my store bought bananas
|
Re: Banana Science!
Welcome to the Org. Sam! :bananas_b
|
Re: Banana Science!
Thank you very much Gabe15. Do the three locules develop separately and join together? Also, can some kind of conjoined banana twins develop from a locule growing out of control?
|
Re: Banana Science!
The conjoined banana twins are normally called double-fingers. In that case you get six locules joined along the vertical axis of two of them.
Like so.  Gabe knows exactly what causes this (I don't) but it's fairly common in some varieties. I had an entire bunch of Dwarf Cavendish fruit turn out doubled except for two bananas, and I'd expect it's a chance mutation since the pups of that plant put out normal bunches. |
Re: Banana Science!
Quote:
|
Re: Banana Science!
Quote:
P.S. Thank you very much to all who replied, it was much appreciated. |
Re: Banana Science!
The culprit of a Malaysian cultivar which always produce double joes is the Pisang Rastali. Though not as mutated as Beth's particular DC, it is very common coming from this cultivar.
As you can see from the pix, this is the kampong or home grown type and when allowed to slightly ripen on the plant, it will show tremendous number of dark sugar spots and streaks. Ugly? Super tasting fruit which is my personal staple among all the cultivars here. It is sweet with an acidic tang. Super! |
Re: Banana Science!
Tog you eat them chunks of wood in your basket too?
|
Re: Banana Science!
Quote:
Those are resin encrusted wood of the Aquilaria malaccensis aka Agarwood. You know, the stuff the Arabs use like crazy? It is also known as The Wood of the Gods which is endemic to our region. In weight, it is more costlier than gold. It is one of the projects of my business in the R&D of this tree for commercial planting. Historically, it has been in use pre Biblical times. |
Re: Banana Science!
Interesting. The resin is caused from the tree being infected with mold resulting in a pleasing aroma? Cool. Sounds like and kinda looks like the spalted maple I cut into boards I have in the basement. I guess the difference is mine smells like mold. I made raised panel doors for my kitchen from Ambrosia Maple. The Ambrosia Beetle bores a hole in the wood and the resulting fungus makes distinct markings in the wood. So Tog if you plants the trees how will you infect it?
Michael |
Re: Banana Science!
Michael, I have sinned enough wrecking threads! :ha: Please check this thread for your answer;
http://www.bananas.org/f8/genus-aqui...gods-7911.html Cya there! :ha: |
| All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:17 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin Version 3.6.8,
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.
All content © Bananas.org & the respective author.