bigdog

Yes, it does get confusing! Seed dealers use Musa x paradisiaca when they have no idea what it is I guess. It means absolutely nothing when labeled as such. It could be anything, a wild species or a hybrid. The Musa x paradisiaca plants that I have seen in person look very much like a Musa acuminata type.

The perception out there is that Musa paradisiaca is a plantain, while Musa sapientum is a dessert banana. Gabe is correct, these names really don't mean anything in modern Musa taxonomy. However, they used to be officially recognized names, so it is difficult to completely get rid of them.