bigdog

Yeah, definitely weird, but very cool! So nice to finally get at least one of these mysteries straightened out.

RobG7aChattTN

The very idea of a young Musa remaining dormant for years...yet being exposed to seasonal frosts during those years! That is very spectacular. This might end up being THE Cold-Hardy Banana!

bigdog

Rob, I had to go back and read that several times to make sure I wasn't just tired or something. They just sit there and wait for the canopy to open up, then take off like a normal banana would do in sunlight. The Chinese call Musa yunnanensis "Lv Bajiao" - "Lv" means green and "Bajiao" is banana. The Dai name is "Boguimen" - "Bo"=tree, "Gui"=banana, "men"=wild. We were initailly told that this banana needed shade to grow well, but some of us tried it in full sun with success anyway. It probably would be a great banana for the PNW or anywhere in Cal. And your point about the young plants being exposed to seasonal frosts makes you think too. I will say that it started growing for me before any other banana in my yard. I first noticed it sprouting back on March 13th, several weeks before our last frost!

Eric-Orlando,FL

Frank, thanks for your effort in clearing up the naming confusion.

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Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a

bigdog

Thrilled to help! I've had my suspicions for quite some time now, but the official description left little doubt, and Professor Hakkinen erased what doubt was left.

Now if we could just get ahold of some Musa itinerans var. itinerans seed! It's out there somewhere. I've seen several pictures on this board of the plant, mainly in Europe.

Eric-Orlando,FL

So how many varieties of Musa itinerans are there?

Has it been determined that what is being sold as 'Burmese Blue' is M. itinerans var. guangdongensis ?

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Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a

Bananaman88

Now you guys really have my interest! I bought a 'Burmese Blue' last year off of E-bay. I'm hoping that that's what it really is. It seems to be from the descriptions I've read, but I guess I won't know for sure until it flowers and fruits. See my gallery for a photo or two of it.

Eric-Orlando,FL

I got some photos of a big clump of Musa yunnanensis. This clump sprouted in situ in 2005. The seeds were spread probably by racoons. The fruiting plants are on the opposite side of the Garden which is 50 acres. Sorry that the last photo of the trunk coloring is blurry, it looked clear on the camera screen.

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Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a

Gabe15

There are about 6 to be described I believe, maybe another one later on. Every 'Burmese Blue' I have seen is very consistant with Musa itinerans, so I would think its safe to go with that.

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The only hemp Im growing is Manila.

Eric-Orlando,FL

We have grown 2 clumps of Musa "Burmese Blue" but neither have been very vigorous. They do produce suckers aways from each other. Here is the inflorescence of one;

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Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a

bigdog

The Musa itinerans article comes out in the March issue of Novon. I am very much looking forward to it! It should clear up a lot.

Bananaman88

Eric,

I haven't found my Burmese Blue (if that's what it is) to be overly vigorous either. Last year (first year in the ground, received as about a 6" plant) it got to be about 5' tall with about 2 pups. The fruit on the pics you posted don't look to have the bluish-purple look that is always described with that fruit. What gives?

Bananaman88

Do they turn color as they develop? How tall is the one in your photos?

Eric-Orlando,FL

They never got any bigger than that then they shriveled up, never fully developed. I never go to see if they turned blue. We had one other flower but it never even set fruit.

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Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a

Bananaman88

Thanks, I'll be sure to let you know what mine does this year. Sorry, I know this thread wasn't originally about BB, but you guys mentioned it so I threw my questions out there!

Tropicallvr

I think Burmese blue needs pollination to get edible fruit(with seeds). That explains why there is so many seeds available for an "edible" banana.
I found it to be cold hardy compared to the other initerans(besides agri-starts M.initerans(yunnansis)).

51st state

sorry to continue to hijack this onto burmese blue

my understanding is also that the european view is that it is M. itinerans var. guangdongensis.

great photos eric, awesome inflorescence.

I take it someone will continue to post these classification updates.

I have faith in Markku, but not necessarily in the Chinese...

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bigdog

I found the article today online, doing a Google search, and free. Here's the link (please don't ask me why it's in the flora of N.A.!):

FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA