The Signal Leaf
 

in July of 2009 I opined that I thought a leaf with a distinct red midrib signaled a flag.
Here is the last leaf prior to a flag leaf on my Ice Cream in 2009:


While observing my dwarf namwahs today I noticed this red midrib:



The pstem is the right diameter for a bloom. The next leaf is emerging, but its too early to tell if it is a flag. I'll know more next week.

Re: The Signal Leaf
 

great info...keep it up...thanks

Re: The Signal Leaf
 

Interesting. Good luck, I hope it is going to bloom/fruit for you soon.

Re: The Signal Leaf
 

Thanks for the info. I've read other sources that concur with your statement. I am hoping for bananas soon. I find myself watching my banana for signs that it is going to flower. Now I have another signal to help me know when my plant is going to produce fruit.

By-the-way, is the leaf with the unusual red mid-rib shorter than the other leaves? Could you tell the leaf had the red midrib while the leaf emerged, or did you have to wait until it unfurled?

Re: The Signal Leaf
 

Depends on the variety. For the ones that have bloomed for me, there was a reddish midrib on the "signal leaf" on some with lots of B (balbisiana) in the genome (e.g., Orinoco, Namwah (probably the same as your "Ice Cream")); but those with less B in the genome haven't had the red midrib (e.g., Goldfinger, Rajapuri, Dwarf Brazilian). And the Pisang Awak ("Namwah") varieties sometimes had red midribs on leaves that are not the signal leaf.

Re: The Signal Leaf
 

Stop Photoshopping in that red midrib! ;) :ha:

I haven't noticed that on my plants. Will be interesting to see what comes next!