nurunuru

I'm hoping that someone here will be able to give me a latin name for a species of banana which I ate in the jungle of Papua New Guinea. It is decidedly stout and chubby-looking from the outside, and has an incredible jelly-like texture on the inside. They taste absolutely phenomenal. Nearly everyone on the team I was with has become pretty obsessed with them. It blows my mind that I've never seen them anywhere else, because they're just incredible.

I've included a picture of a small bunch (the big fat-looking ones above the other smaller bananas) and a close-up. Of course, even if someone can identify the species, it doesn't mean I'll be able to find it anywhere... but it'd be a start at least!

Attached Images

	jelly bananas1.jpg (73.5 KB, 107 views)
	jelly banana close-up.jpg (39.2 KB, 114 views)

Gabe15

There are a couple factors which is making your questions very difficult to address, mostly that edible bananas do not have latin names (and edible banana taxonomy is a bit of a nightmare for the untrained), and also PNG has one of the highest banana diversity anywhere (many of them not found anywhere else, and likely with a fair amount of unknown to science cultivars still), so it would be very difficult to nail it down without some more photos, and even then it might be very difficult.

What we need (if you have or can get), are photos of a relatively mature fruit bunch on the plant, preferably with the flower bud still attached, and maybe some other photos of the plant. Or if you have any photos of the plant at all at any stage, it might help to narrow it down a bit. I would suspect though that even if we could nail it down, the only place you would be able to get them are at villages around Melanesia.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

2woodensticks

we need to fine out!!!!..they look delicious and i must have one!! lets get our top people on this one..

Bob3

Now we'll have to get some 'genetic material' shipped to the US for some TCing!

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nurunuru

Gabe15 - Thanks very much for your response. Alas, I am aware of no photos of the actual plant. I've actually been to PNG 3 times, so if I'd had my thinking cap on the last time I went there, I would've asked one of the locals to take me to one of the plants so I could take some pictures. I guess that leaves us pretty stumped for an iden for the time being then.

If anyone knows of any other species which also have a jelly-like consistency to the banana, I'd certainly be interested to know what they are!

Gabe15

Did they not tell you the name of it? Even though they are local village names, they are scientifically legitimate and sometimes traceable.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

Pancrazio

When i see post like this one, i wonder if rare cultivars are being discovered quicker or slower than the rithm they are becoming extinct.

Nice plant and report. I wouldn't mind to taste it.

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nurunuru

Alas, I never asked the local name for the banana in question. I've just been looking through the log from one of our trips, and the closest info I could find was how to say "I like bananas" in the local language. As y'all may know, PNG has by far the highest language diversity per square mile of any country, with over 850 languages being spoken. The tribe we went to visit has their own language spoken by only around 6,000 people.

In case you were wondering, "I like bananas" in the local tongue is "Na bie ara tapu nena."

Only 6,000 people in the world are gonna know what the hell you're saying, but if you meet someone who does... maybe they'll smile and find you a jelly banana.

raygrogan

My friend James is going to PNG next week. He is sharp biologically (marine bio and great home brew) but inexperienced in banana growing. He will look for the jelly bananas. Is there anything we can do to help him find the fruit, then the plant, and get back with something that we can grow?

If we get just one, I suggest we entrust it to Gabe for that first generation. If two, I will be glad to try, but if someone is better with possibly fragile plant life I'll let them grow it up.

Navigation - Which PNG freeway and which exit number? Which convenience store / gas station? [sarcasm off] I have heard that getting around there is like telling someone to walk from (our local example) Wahiawa to Kahana. But any clues might help. We have to accept that the odds of him getting to the right village / tribe are a million to one, and getting out to the growing area and getting a few pups, and getting them to here are even less.

What should he know about import / export type things?

Pup transport?

Ray

nurunuru

Ray - The bananas I ate were in the Morobe Province. I have no idea as to the plant's range within the island, so he may well be able to find them elsewhere. If he were to print out the pictures from this thread and show them to some locals, I imagine that would be his best shot at finding either the same species or something similar.

Alas, I am largely unfamiliar with the nation's import/export laws. There are certain items which are certainly illegal to take with you, such as turtle shells and bird of paradise feathers. I wish your friend every success in his search! I don't know if he's been there before, but my 3 biggest pieces of advice would be:

1. Wear DEET. (I got malaria regardless of taking anti-malarial prophylactics.)
2. Don't scratch.
3. Go easy on the betelnut.

fishoifc

Check out the pics on the main site under dessert thai banana the banana in the pic that is cut down the middle appears that it could have a jelly like consistency like your pic,maybe its in the same family and could be a under over ripe thing.

nurunuru

Just some new intel on this one...

Apparently the cultivar in question actually originated in Indonesia and was imported to PNG.

banana13

Where did you get that info?

nurunuru

A friend of mine was told this by a local during one of our trips. Just came up in conversation recently.

banana13

Does this mean that the cultivar name is known to them>

nurunuru

Maybe by the locals, but not by my friend.

banana13

Interesting. Are there any new leads?

nurunuru

Zip.