JCDerrick

Was lucky enough to get this banana from a friend in Hawaii earlier this year. Luckily it passed USDA inspection (I had been worried it wouldn't - but since it was going to SC, no big deal I guess). It's been growing great, but I have NO clue what the ID is. I'm curious to find out, any help would be most appreciated. If it helps, it's from Kauai.



Thanks,
John

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JCDerrick

Here's another shot of it:

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Gabe15

Since its so young its hard to say exactly what it is, but of the common bananas found growing random places in Hawaii, it is not Apple (known as Brazilian on the mainland), Williams or Gros Michel. It actually looks rather an authentic Hawaiian traditional variety, possibly a Maoli or Popo'ulu type. If/when it fruits, it will be much easier to tell what it is.

Do you know anything more about it, like in what kind of condition it was collected (in the forest, from somones yard...) or anything about what kind of fruit it is supposed to make?

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JCDerrick

Well, I asked at the time and he swore he got the parent from a grove along a neat a hike we've often gone on near Wai'ale'ale's crater. It's where the stream diverges into an irrigation ditch if you know where I'm talking about - near the road with "the gate" bc of the filming of Jurassic Park. There's only one banana grove I've seen there, so I assume that's the one he's talking about; it's right near the ditch. I have a photo from far away, but didn't get a close up unfortunately - didn't know I needed too at the time bc I got the pup later on. Given the location, it wouldn't surprise me if it was a traditional banana. The location couldn't be more remote honestly.

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JCDerrick

LOL, I don't believe it. I went back and looked at some photos I took there in 2005 and my wife just happened to take a photo of the ditch and grove I was talking about. It's the only one around, so I think that's where the parent was from.

Hope this helps.

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Lagniappe

Are those El'e El'e ? Man, they look good whatever they are !
I see a bunch hanging in the top of the pic but can't see the P-stem .

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JCDerrick

I'll see if we have any other photos. I might have one tucked away from another year. Unfortunately digital cameras in 2005 weren't what they are now. LOL, wish I'd taken that shot above with the SLR.

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JCDerrick

This is as good as I can get for now. I'm going to search around the web and see if anyone else has perhaps taken a photo of this location. Maybe I'll get lucky and someone will have a closeup. Not sure most folks take quite as many plant photos as me though, LOL

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Gabe15

That mat kinda looks like common Hawaiian 'Apple' ('Brazilian' on the mainland), hard to say exactly without a clear bunch shot, but clearly not a Hawaiian traditional variety.

Someone who knows that area well has informed me that there are no Hawaiian traditional bananas in the immediate area of your photograph, but there are some not far up the trail, so perhaps it could have been collected somewhere a little further up, or there was another mat in the area that maybe wasn't noticed. But the young plant you have really doesn't look like it came from that mat judging from the pictures.

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JCDerrick

Thanks, I emailed the photo and asked him again. He says that's the grove for sure, so I dunno. The "path" doesn't go much further before it turns into a pig trail heading towards the 'Blue Hole.' Here's the location in Google maps, if that helps at all with your source:
Wai'ale'ale North Fork Stream Divergence

Maybe when the young one gets older I'll have a better chance of IDing it.

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JCDerrick

Also is the "Apple Banana," the same as Musa acuminata 'Ice Cream'?

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bepah

Nope....

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JCDerrick

OK, this is still bugging me so I started doing more research.

Apple (or Brazilian) is the same as Manzano right?

Gabe, since I have confirmed that mat is the originating place of this banana, is calling it a manzano likely my best ID? At least until I get a flower in a year or two?

Two more closeups... for kicks. Surprisingly, no pups yet.

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modenacart

I am going to guess that it is a banana plant.

Gabe15

No. In Hawai'i, what is called 'Apple' is actually what is known as 'Brazilian' on the mainland. What is called 'Manzano' and 'Apple' on the mainland is either called 'Manzano', or less often 'True Apple' here. So I suppose you could call it a 'Brazilian' if you want for now.

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momoese

Looks just like my Hawaiian Apples that I know are true. The color and leaf shape spot on.

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Mitchel

JCDerrick

Gotcha, thanks guys.

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Tropicallvr

How come the Musa dwarf brazilian doesn't have nearly that much pink(just on the edges), and it's supposed to be the same thing?
The Mexican apple also doesn't have that much pink either.