Jeff

I took this photo the other day and I thought I would share it. I'm not sure what kind it is as there are hundreds of bananas growing on this property and nobody seems to know the names of them.


Here's what it looked like when it was smaller. It fruited at about 10 feet. Whatever it is, I really like the look of this one. It is a sturdy growing banana with thick wide leaves. A really beautiful plant!

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Jeff in Costa Rica

Gabe15

It looks like a Cavendish, there are many different varieties which are all rather similar with different names.

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

Jeff

Thanks Gabe. The only one that anyone knows the name of is "Pelepita" which seems more like a plantain, but you can eat them raw once they really ripen. They are actually quite good.

Many years ago this area was surrounded by large scale banana plantations. The United Fruit Company was the major employer back then. The banana plantations have long been replaced by African Oil Palm plantations, but you can still see many banana plants growing wild along the road and at the edge of the forests.

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Jeff in Costa Rica

Bananaman88

I read an article recently about these oil palm plantations and how companies are clearing a lot of the native flora in Borneo to get them going. For miles and miles, nothing but oil palm monoculture. Very similar to what the banana plantations are like, I'm sure. No monocultures are good. Nice photos, though.