Originally Posted by venturabananas

Here are the key features that distinguish "Pseudo-Ice Cream" from "Blue Java" that I notice and that Gabe has commented on:

Blue Java: fruit are usually quite blue, a little angular, not normally packed really tight on the bunch; bracts sort of a normal dark purple.

Pseudo-Ice Cream (Pisang Awak): fruit are not really blue (maybe a slight tinge) though very powdery, completed rounded in cross section when ripe, and densely packed on the bunch; bracts are more pink than dark purple.


There's been talk about whether the pink borders on the leaves and petioles can distinguish the two (pink on Pseudo Ice Cream). I know Tony's observations of his plants are correct since I've seen them, but since I got my true Blue Java from him, new leaves they've put out have initially had pink borders. It could have to do with the light environment, temperature, or who knows? So, I don't think the presence of a pink border is a definitive characteristic.

Gabe also says the blue color of the fruit is not definitive, though I think it is safe to say that if the fruit are really blue, they are Blue Java; but you can also have fruit that aren't all the blue that are also Blue Java.

I've only eaten the Pseudo Ice Cream and they are very good. Not sure if the true Blue Java is worth all the hype, but I hope to find out eventually. Based on how it fares at Quail Gardens in Encinitas, it is a tough, reliable plant.

Originally Posted by venturabananas

It is a "Namwah" (a Pisang Awak cultivar) for sure. There are several giveaways, but a really obvious one from the photos is the purplish band of color on the banana finger "stems" (pedicels) where they attach to the base of the hand and the bunch stalk.

Originally Posted by hydroid

TJ... I would think that Blake's naner is the same as the one I gave you when we thought we had Ice Cream but Namwah instead.
Bo

Originally Posted by Dangermouse01

How long does it take for the "purplish band" to show? The bunch on my D Namwa, which seems farther along than the pictures referenced in this thread, does not have the purple bands.

There was questions as to whether mine is a Dwarf Namwa (which was what the tag stated) or a regular Namwa since it is pretty tall. Should I start to wonder if it is something else?

Namwah and Namwa are just different spellings of the same thing, right?

DM

Originally Posted by venturabananas

... is the purplish band of color on the banana finger "stems" (pedicels) where they attach to the base of the hand and the bunch stalk.

Originally Posted by venturabananas

The purplish band at the base of the hand is only present when the bunch is young. It disappears later. Unless I'm imagining it, I still see it faintly in your photo.

Yours is definitely a Namwah (=Namwa), but at that height and with that appearance, I'd say your is not a dwarf. But post a picture of the entire plant. Dwarf Namwah is characteristically a very stout looking plant.

Originally Posted by venturabananas

The purplish band at the base of the hand is only present when the bunch is young. It disappears later. Unless I'm imagining it, I still see it faintly in your photo.

Originally Posted by Jose263

- however Blake's nana bunch appears to have full-size nanas and no pink outline?- The aka IC from you has lady finger size (stubby looking)- only 3-4 inches long regular diameter and the pstem height is at 10 ' when the bloom emerges. The leaves and petoles have a pink edge are closed and mid stems underneath are pink.
My limited knowledge - Real BJ-IC is said to grow 15', full size fruit? with blue shading and fruit?
Consensus was ours ( you, me, Darkman) are Tall Namwah mislabeled as IC -
BJ

Originally Posted by Blake09

Thanks for all the great info on the thread yall!!










Purple color fading on oldest hand:





Newer hand:






mid hand:


















Heres a few young leaf shots of my "not ice cream"










Very waxy pup:







Older leaf:

















EDIT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………



I got my first all male blooms today also:

Originally Posted by Jose263

My limited knowledge - Real BJ-IC is said to grow 15', full size fruit? with blue shading and fruit?

Originally Posted by venturabananas

The real Blue Java plants I've seen have been more like 10' of pseudostem and the fruit have been the same size as Namwah, though I understand that under good conditions they can get bigger, though never "full size" if by that you mean the same size as the average Cavendish at the supermarket.

Originally Posted by Jose263

Ventura - Thanks for your experience- I already have a spot reserved for a IC-BJ pup and the hunt continues - yes- I was using store bought nanas as "full size" but even my orinocos are longer than the namwah

Originally Posted by Hammocked Banana

Did this bunch meet its demise?