Bananaman88

Hello everyone,

I've posted three shots of a banana that I used to think was Musa basjoo. For those of you who haven't heard the story (my apologies to those who have...just skip ahead), I originally obtained this banana from my place of employment in St. Louis a few years back. We had successfully overwintered it outside for a couple of years before I moved to Houston. It was labeled as M. basjoo, and seeing as how it overwintered, I had no reason to believe that wasn't what it was. That is, until it flowered (reddish/maroon flower) and fruited (no seeds) for me here in Houston. So, if anyone could take a look at my photos and offer up a possible identity for this banana, I would be very appreciative.

Thanks for your help and my compliments to everyone here. You all grow some great plants! Thanks for sharing your photos. I hope to get more of mine posted soon.

the flying dutchman

Here they are

MediaHound

Possibly Orinoco, check out the wiki page about them...
http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Musa_Orinoco

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Bananaman88

MediaHound,

The fruits on my plant were not nearly as angular or pointy at the ends as they look on 'Orinoco'. Also, do you really think 'Ornioco' would have been hardy in the ground in St. Louis? That's Zone 5 with 5-6 months of weather that is very non-condusive to banana growing. The Wiki lists it as a Zone 7-9 plant. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, just seems unlikely to me. However, it was grown in an area that was open to the air, but with walls around it (an outdoor garden at a botanical garden) so that could have given it that extra little protection it needed. I'm looking forward to it flowering and fruiting this year so that I can really inspect it closely. The last time it fruited and flowered, I never really thought about the fact that it had a red flower; in fact it was only recently that I realized that basjoo has a yellow flower. Don't ask me how I've managed to go all this time without realizing that very important identifying characteristic! Could be Orinoco. Anyone else have any ideas?

Bananaman88

Forgot to mention a couple of my guesses after looking at many, many photos. 'Williams' or 'Williams Hybrid' looks similar, especially the way the fruit is not so pointy at the tips. Also, I've looked at a lot of pictures of 'Goldfinger' and it looks similar to my plant as well. Of course, the cold-hardy factor keep throwing me off though. I guess I may never know for sure, but being a horticulturist and formerly working at a botanical garden where we labeled everything, I really want to know what I've got!

Lagniappe

I just loaded pics of my Williams in my gallery . They did fine in north Louisiana with an inch or less of cypress mulch . Still a far cry from zone 5 but we had an unusualy cold winter and this mat had almost no protection .

MediaHound

Look at the third picture down in the wiki,


They taper very similar..
As for the hardiness, yes it may be out of range in your area according to what it states there...

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Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

Bananaman88

Lagniappe- to my eye, your photos look very similar to what I have.

MediaHound- is the photo you posted of Orinoco or Williams? Looks more like Williams to me. I'll take a look at the Wiki. I'm still fairly new to the site and haven't had time to check everything out/figure out how it all works.

Thanks to you both for your help. If anyone else would care to speculate on the identity of my banana, feel free!

MediaHound

88, The photo is of Orinoco.

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Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

Bananaman88

MediaHound,

So, what's your best guess on my banana? I've gotten Orinoco, Ice Cream, and I speculated about Williams or Goldfinger.

I do recall this banana being quite dry (like a plantain) but that could have been due to the fact that I may have cut it too soon. The hand of fruit did sit around for many weeks before any turned yellow enough for me to sample.

Daddy's Girl

It's been @ forever & a day since I've participated herein, so you prob already got answer to this, BUT, when I saw your pic I think it's a Musa African Red Flower Banana Plant. Your is gorgeous, even if not M.A.R. I used to live in TN & a neighbor had one & it looked like yours...very pretty. We're here in TX now, too (I haven't gotten used to the turmoils of planting here yet...we're in DFW area)

island cassie

Hey - I'm with Jarred - I think it looks like a tall Orinoco. Mine are just like that! Leave it on the plant until the fingers start to change colour and it won't be dry. Also - wait until the fruit are quite soft and freckled before eating them - when you think they are ready - wait another day or so. Eaten too soon they are a poor shadow of what they can be. Even when the skin is black, the fruit will be nice for eating.

Bananaman88

This was an old thread (2007). I've eaten fruit off of this a couple of times since and I'm pretty confident that it is Orinoco.

Lagniappe

My 'Williams' turned out to be a mutant of Orinoco . It was the one with several fused pair of fruits.

xavierdlc61887

i have one too pete!! :P and from u :P