oneforeachofyou

Looking for an ID on my friends banana here in coastal plains SC. They bought two from a local farmers market years ago, and know that one was labeled a Bas Joo. They don't recall the other. This is an offspring of one of those two.

And also a question about Bas Joo fruit. I've read that it isn't edible. Does that mean that it is harmful if eaten, or just that it isn't palatable?

Thanks for any help!

https://imgur.com/a/uMIcHVQ

Backyard Banana Joe

Basjoo isn't edible because it has seeds, not because of the taste. But that isn't a basjoo........ Not sure what..

Gabe15

The plant appears to be ‘Raja Puri’. Although Musa basjoo would normally form seeded fruits in the wild, in cultivation typically the fruit doesn’t develop at all, no pulp or seeds, just small empty skins essentially.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

Backyard Banana Joe

Gabe, could it be maybe a goldfinger off type?




Take a pic of the midrib of the plant.... I think raja puri's are red lined, can't tell from pic.

Gabe15

The male bud is very different, even on the some of the Goldfinger off-types which tend to have a different bud shape than standard Goldfinger. However, they are somewhat closely related as 'Raja Puri' is essentially just a 'Dwarf Brazilian' variant, and 'Goldfinger' is a full 50% hybrid of 'Dwarf Brazilian'.

Here is a typical 'Goldfinger' off-type. Notice the lack of persistent bracts, and much more compact male bud.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.