Tropicallvr

There seems to be quite a few different forms of E.ventricosum out there, which isn't surprising given that it's from many places through out Africa.
A few that have been mentioned are the regular US/Mexico form-


The mostly tissue cultured E.ventricosum 'Maurelli'(purple leaf)

There is also supposed to be an all green form, as well as a South African form in the US.
On the UK global net site it says that forms through out Africa can have brown red coloring, splotched red/brown leaves, as well as different seed sizes and various amounts of wax. There is also supposed to be some "pupping" forms. There ought to varying degrees of cold hardiness between low land and high land plants.
The "regular" form of E.ventricosum sold in Europe also seems to differ from the "regular" form in the US.
Here's a link to a European member's typical E.ventricosum that seems to have more wax, and a more pink color than US types.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showp...&size=big&cat=
Then of course there is Ensete ventricosum 'Montbeliardii' which is fairly common in the UK, but has been grown in the US in 70's. Seems to be a more slender form of maurelli.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/l...609577447.html
Then there is Ensete ventricosum 'Hiniba', which also seems closely related to Ensete ventricosum 'maurelli', but shorter. Anyone have some pics of it or other forms? Or maybe some variegated forms?

bikoro child

Hi here is the form we find in France the leaves seem larger ...
http://fousdepalmiers.fr/html/forum/...t=ensete#11599

SteveW

Hi Guys,
I thought I had more pics of my ensetes ,but can only find these ones.
The first is 'Hiniba' from kobakoba last summer
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Hiniba at the back witha small monty in front,then a small ventricosum and maurelli pup
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Hiniba side by side with the same monty in the previous pic
DSC00073-1.JPG
Monty all by himself
DSC00076.JPG
I'll take a pic of monty out in the greenhouse tommorrow,its still growing very slowly and looks as good now as it did at the end of the summer.
This is quite possibly my favourite banana and is going to get a prize position in the garden this spring.Along with a few others that is
Steve

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Steve

Gabe15

I've seen a South African form, it was mostly green but with thick vertical stripes of red on the pseudostem.

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The only hemp Im growing is Manila.

dablo93

hi all, I really love enstes so thanks for the pics!
the one from france with the big leaves is amazing!!
i have only the normal ventricosum, seedlings with one or 2 leaves, hope they will grow much this year

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Mustang

Monty is very rare in the UK. It was only available from one nursery for a short time, and that nursery has now stopped trading. Another nursery has the last few remaining Monty plants.

There is also another red form doing the rounds in the UK, called Tandarra Red. Some argue that it is simply a renamed maurelii, whilst others argue that it is a shorter, squatter form.

And of course, there is the variegated form of maurelii, possibly called Harlequin. Unfortunately, I can't find a picture of it now, but it looked pretty psychedelic.

SteveW

Helen,is that the one Desert to Jungle found?or is there another?

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Steve

Mustang

There could be 2 Steve. One that Paul Spraklin mentioned, and possibly the one at desert to jungle had.

Tropicallvr

really nice big leaf one, Bikoro.
Steve, you almost have the complete set of E.ventricosum, just a couple left to collect. Nice plants(and pics), I wish someone over here in the US would start tissue culturing them.

CookieCows

I love these! I just looked it up read that the E.ventricosum is cold hardy. I really want one of these. I see them for sale online from various nurseries but will post in the swap and for sale section first in case anyone has any for sale in spring.

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SteveW

Helen,
When D-J were on that TV show the other month,they mentioned they were going to get their one TC'd.
Wonder if they've done it yet?

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Steve

SteveW

Thanks Tropicallvr I'm trying my best.lol
I'm surprised that no one over is TCing them,normally its the other way around with you guys in the states getting all the good stuff.
I think the only place that sold Hiniba was kobas,and unlike the monty they haven't reappeared as of yet.

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Steve

magicgreen

Beautiful plant Bikoro child. Wish that web site could be converted to english!
Steve your plants are also beautiful! How in the world do you keep the wind from knocking them over?

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
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SteveW

Thanks Lynn
The plants in my second pic are quite close to the garden fence,so they get a fair bit of shelter from any westerly winds which are the ones that do the damage here.Also theres a basjoo clump right next to them which offers a bit of protection.Shame theres nothing to protect the basjoo though.

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Steve

bikoro child

Thanks Lynn i have the same problem you have with that website when i'm here huhu! Sometimes difficult to understand all what you say (abreviations and so on)...For the moment here is my ensete ventricosum ;the pic was taken in october