eggo

Musa 'Florida variegate'. Supposedly a variety that a Thai collector brought over from Florida years ago. It looks to me almost exactly like Ae Ae. It does however have a very strong red line on the edges of the leaves. The trunk is suppose to remain considerably redder compared to the AeAe. So far there's red on the trunk but I had an AeAe than had that red trunk quality but eventually grew out of it. A major thing that surprises me is that the leaves have very slight faint red spots that you don't see in the AeAe. Overall, I think it's probably an AeAe, maybe a slight mutation on the original form. What do you think?

JoeReal

Why don't you ship it over here and I will tell what I think of it?

Naah... It will just die out over here.

Mark Hall

Eggo it does seem to have more pink than usual(well compared to mine )its like the sikkimensis some have darker mottling than others. I think its an Aeae and someones trying to cash in on it being another banana.

Its very nice though.

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JoeReal

Well, if it is different in some recognizable way and reproducible through its pups with consistency, then definitely it is different. If from pup to pup, the variations averaged out or not consistent, then it is the same banana.

You might be amazed at how these things are debated to their death. Many citrus cultivars are also like that, only if those observed differences are consistently reproducible from the parent to new clonal plants, then you can declare it is a new variety. That's how cultivars came to be.

MediaHound

I remember this thread where you were probing for info on it:
'Florida variegate'
It didn't get any replies... but it's nice to see a pic of what you're talking about.
I hope it does turn out to be something new, to be honest. We could use some more variety of variegated bananas.

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Gabe15

That really looks exactly like 'Ae Ae', my young 'Ae Ae' also showed those very pink/red margins, they seem to lose it with age however.

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AnnaJW

I think - it is beautiful! Whatever it is.

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eggo

hehe, Joe I think I'll spare the banana from one of you Northerners winters.
Thanks all. Gabe, I'm hoping some of the slight variation remains when it gets older. I think those Thai collectors usually know what their talking about so we'll see how it goes. =)

jnstropic

The growth looks like an Ae Ae. The amount of red pigment and the high percentage of green could be due to the environment or the fertilizer that's added. Mine get full sun and the white parts burn, but the fruit crop is good. Every one produces small differences - if your picky.

JoeReal

Thanks Eggo. One of these days, will have to experiment on it. But that's a long ways 'til retirement.

It is also amazing to have different mileage or unexpected results with variegated stuff. My variegated versions of some of my citruses and bougainvileas do not suffer sunburn and are slightly cold hardier than their regular versions. I had no time to look at Ae ae since it was grown in the shaded area as per recommendations of most gurus, but it died just before the first frosts and never returned after the winter.

newflemmli

Sadly it's not a AE AE.

It is a Musa sp. "Linn", which is a widespreaded banana in thailand.
It loses it beautiful white leaves when it becomes older.

Florida

Hey Eggo,

how is your 'Florida variegated' doing?
I also have one and I wonder how mine will look like,
when she gets bigger.

Greetings Oliver