Lilith

I am hopeful somoene can say what this may be.
I got this plant a few years ago as a trade. It was SUPPOSED to be Ensete maurellii Red Abyssinian banana. But, because I have grown that particular plant for about 10 years and have 3 to compare this one to, I know that its not Red A.

It does look like it may be some sort of Ensete.

I have had it planted outside through 2 winters. It comes back from being knocked to the ground but never gets much bigger than knee high. I am going to dig it up and containerize it and put it in the greenhouse for the winter this fall to see if it will grow larger.

This plant is interesting because it has black striations on the stem, and also on the leaves. There is also some true white VARIEGATION that occurs on some leaves, its not really pronounced like on an Ae Ae but definitely there...I have tried to show it in the 3rd photo.

Any ideas?

__________________
11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--

Lilith

leaves showing striations

__________________
11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--

Lilith

leaf showing small amount of white variegation

__________________
11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--

bigdog

Lilith, that is a sick Ensete ventricosum. The variegation isn't from disease, just the plant overall looks pretty sad. I have an E. ventricosum that looks very similar, variegation included. It burns in full sun, and the leaves look black and funky like the one in your pics does too. I blame it on a bad TC culture.