Bananas.org - View Single Post

paradisi · 07-20-2008, 01:33 AM

I live in Queensland, but about 1500km south of where the native bananas run free.

I found this article on Queensland native bananas in http://www.wanatca.org.au/Q-Yearbook/Q07-3.pdf and it may be of interest to some collectors.

Does anyone grow these species in their collections? Becuase they are seeded bananas and I live in Queensland I can't grow them in my backyard - government regulations ban all bar a few varieties of bananas for the home enthusiast.

Native bananas of north Queensland
There are two varieties of banana which are native to north Queensland. The most common one is Musa acuminata subsp. banksii which is found from Ingham to the tip of Cape York. The second is Musa jackeyi which is extremely rare and known only from Bellenden Ker and Cooktown. They are usually found in clearings or around the edges of rainforests and along watercourses.
Wild bananas are easily distinguished from cultivated bananas because the fruits consists mainly of hard dark seeds which are 3-5mm in diameter. Sir Joseph Banks encountered the wild banana (banksii) in his travels in the 18th Century and noted in his diary that the fruit was so small and full of seed that it was scarcely edible. Musa acuminate subsp. banksii
grows to 3-4m in height, has a pendulous bunch and usually a yellow-green male bud (bell) though maroon forms exist.
Musa jackeyi grows to 4-5m in height, has an erect bunch and a green male bud. The sap is unusual, being a red colour like that of cooked beetroot. The erect bunch and red sap are characteristics of the Australimusa group of bananas to which it belongs compared to Eumusa which includes most seeded and cultivated bananas.
The Queensland Department of Primary Industries has a particular interest in the native bananas as they are known to harbour some pests and diseases of bananas which could be of consequence to the banana industry. Their reaction to black Sigatoka (present in the Torres Strait) and Panama disease (southern Queensland) is currently being assessed to determine the likely effect the native banana population may play should these diseases be introduced to north Queensland. On a more positive note the native bananas may be important germplasm for banana breeding programs.
---Jeff Daniels
Senior Horticulturist, QDPI
South Johnstone

07-20-2008, 01:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
paradisi The news from Dicky Beach paradisi's Photo Gallery Location: Dicky Beach, Australia Find me on the map! Name: paradisi Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 107 BananaBucks : 127,000 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 41 Times Was Thanked 82 Times in 37 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Queensland bananas I live in Queensland, but about 1500km south of where the native bananas run free. I found this article on Queensland native bananas in http://www.wanatca.org.au/Q-Yearbook/Q07-3.pdf and it may be of interest to some collectors. Does anyone grow these species in their collections? Becuase they are seeded bananas and I live in Queensland I can't grow them in my backyard - government regulations ban all bar a few varieties of bananas for the home enthusiast. Native bananas of north Queensland There are two varieties of banana which are native to north Queensland. The most common one is Musa acuminata subsp. banksii which is found from Ingham to the tip of Cape York. The second is Musa jackeyi which is extremely rare and known only from Bellenden Ker and Cooktown. They are usually found in clearings or around the edges of rainforests and along watercourses. Wild bananas are easily distinguished from cultivated bananas because the fruits consists mainly of hard dark seeds which are 3-5mm in diameter. Sir Joseph Banks encountered the wild banana (banksii) in his travels in the 18th Century and noted in his diary that the fruit was so small and full of seed that it was scarcely edible. Musa acuminate subsp. banksii grows to 3-4m in height, has a pendulous bunch and usually a yellow-green male bud (bell) though maroon forms exist. Musa jackeyi grows to 4-5m in height, has an erect bunch and a green male bud. The sap is unusual, being a red colour like that of cooked beetroot. The erect bunch and red sap are characteristics of the Australimusa group of bananas to which it belongs compared to Eumusa which includes most seeded and cultivated bananas. The Queensland Department of Primary Industries has a particular interest in the native bananas as they are known to harbour some pests and diseases of bananas which could be of consequence to the banana industry. Their reaction to black Sigatoka (present in the Torres Strait) and Panama disease (southern Queensland) is currently being assessed to determine the likely effect the native banana population may play should these diseases be introduced to north Queensland. On a more positive note the native bananas may be important germplasm for banana breeding programs. ---Jeff Daniels Senior Horticulturist, QDPI South Johnstone