Your region's historically grown varieties
 

Each subtropical/tropical region of the world has bananas that have been cultivated for years and have been handed down through generations. Here in Florida three varieties have been grown for over a century. They are 'Apple', 'Orinoco' and 'Dwarf Cavendish'. The 'Apple' is called lady finger by many Florida natives. I got mine from my maternal great grandfather's farm in Plant City, Florida when I was a young boy. 'Orinoco' is called horse banana here by locals. It was only eaten by hispanics after cooking. Many orange groves have them growing on their fringes. 'Dwarf Cavendish' was brought to Florida to start commercial production in Florida over a century ago. Freezes in Central Florida prevented the first attempts of mainland US production. I got my 'Dwarf Cavendish' from my paternal grandfather in South Miami as a boy. It has been in the last 25 years that the cultivar list available in Florida has snowballed.

The Apple Banana, is also known as La Tundan or Latondan, unless there are other synonyms, and it has been growing in the Philippines far earlier than the US. It could have a Malayan origin, as one of the major settlers of the Philippines came from Malaysia. It must have been brought into Florida by Spaniards, just my speculation.

Re: Your region's historically grown varieties
 

Here in the Florida Panhandle there has been a "Passalong" Banana that is ubiquitous in yards here. I've heard that it is a Cavandish but since no one I Know's ever got one to reach RIpening...who KNows?
I am goingto try some of the "tricks" mentioned here and in regional publications to get one to Fruit here in z8b(other than just being on a waiting list for 'Vente Cohol';>), as well as(at least) an FHIA-23...
Cheers,
Pat

Re: Your region's historically grown varieties
 

Here in Ecuador, which is one of the Banana Republics, the dominant traditional banana is Cavendish; it used to be Gros Michel before the Panama disease wiped most of that species off the map.

Non-commercially, the traditional bananas for home-growth are Plantain, Orito, Jamaican Red, and the reamining Panama-resistant remains of Gros Michel, which we call "Seda."

We also grow Ensete ventricosum as boulevard trees in some cities.

Re: Your region's historically grown varieties
 

True, 1st making port in the Caribbean in 1529.

As Gabe has pointed out, the Banana name game becomes even more fun when the name travels without the banana. For example, researchers at Tamil Nadu have found that what is called Apple Banana in India is actually regular Mysore, while investigators in Cameroon have determined what is commonly called Apple Banana in Africa is synonymous with Manzano.

:0517:

Re: Your region's historically grown varieties
 

Wow! This is an old thread.