Quote:
Originally Posted by bigdog
It is definitely a Musa itinerans variety, but as Gabe said, has not been described yet. It is a huge banana, around 35 feet of pseudostem, close to the size of var. xishuangbannensis, so it isn't very similar to var. guangdongensis. Whatever has been on the market as 'Burmese Blue' in all likelihood is not it.
|
There are multiple varieties of M. itinerans with the purple fruits. The ones I have seen flowering as 'Burmese Blue' in the US (at Harry P. Leu in Orlando and the Hawaii Tropical Botanic Garden on the Hamakua Coast, Big Island) both were only about 10-12ft. Over the summer, we planted some in the conservatory of the Denver Botanic Gardens, so I will be able to watch those grow over time when I return to Colorado periodically. However, Don Chafin informs me that he pollinated his 'Burmese Blue' and did not get purple fruits, so if we are to consider that all of the 'Burmese Blue' on the market are the same clone, it is possible they are not the intended M. itinerans variety at all. I don't think environmental factors would change their natural heights or (mature) fruit color so drastically. Obviously, the whole story of this plant is not known yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Worm_Farmer
35' Tall?? Holey smokes! How long does it take to flower? Is it just a cooking banana like Saba?
|
It is a seeded wild banana, so not like 'Saba' at all which is a cultivated edible banana variety.