Tropicallvr

This ornamental banana was just listed on Ebay. See if anything seems wrong about this add.
TROPICAL MUSA MANNII ORNAMENTAL BANANA RHIZOMES - eBay (item 300214148030 end time Apr-11-08 17:24:39 PDT)

bigdog

Wow, 15 feet tall, eh? I need one of those, LOL!

Tropicallvr

Yep, LOL, and if I'm not mistaken the plant at the bottom of the page shown barerooted is actually a heliconia rhimozome.

Bananaman88

15'???!!! This guy/gal's crazy! I've grown M. mannii for about 6 yrs now and I've never seen it over about 4.5' tall. I have some for sale in the Classifieds if anyone's interested. 15', yeah, right!

D_&_T

On this web site it list Heliconia paradise as an Musa Velutina, plus the way that is cut would it survive?



MUSA VELUTINA - HELICONIA PARADISE.

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chong

The RHS has pictures of M. Mannii. The base of the leaf petioles should be dark red. The pup in the picture is all green.

Here's where they have the pictures:
Musa mannii images

With all its roots removed, it will go into dormancy-like state. After transporting, the pup base can be soaked in warm water to "wake" it up from dormancy.

D_&_T

Thanks Chong still have a lot to learn here about musa and other plants!
Have been looking here first before considering bidding on anything plant related!!

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Tropicallvr

If it is a heliconia, then it's even more difficult(than Musa) to get it growing with that small of a pup, without roots.

chong

I don't think that's it's a Heliconia, though. I think that it's a young banana seedling or from TC.

sandy0225

whatever it is, you'd have to reroot it. I wouldn't want it personally.

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Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!

D_&_T

Did you see they changed the name of the plant for sale!

We asked question on height, and got this reply.

Thank you for your inquiry...Actually, there was a mistake in this listing that has just been corrected today. IT was listed as MANNII but is ORNATA "Purple Royalty" instead. It is a hybrid developed last year in Hawaii.

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Tropicallvr

Developed last year in Hawaii lol.
I've grown a few Heliconia, and the pup still looks like a heliconia to me.

D_&_T

We have never grown heliconia, but we never grow bananas till last summer! Just surprising what some do to make money.

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chong

I just reviewed his ad. I still think it's a banana, not Heliconia. Heliconias have thicker, harder looking pstem and petioles. The plant in the photo has succulent looking pstem and petioles.

Besides, regarding the lack of root: his ad says that he digs them out just before shipping. If you want the roots to be left with the pup, tell him so when you pay.

When they shipped planting corms across the Philippines, they cut out the roots, clean them and dry them out a bit before packing. It is not an unusual procedure to remove the roots for shipping, esp. if it might take a week to get to where they're being shipped.

Before planting, the corms are soaked in 115degF water for 15 minutes, followed by soaking in 125degF water for another 15 minutes. After that, they are dusted or sprayed with fungicide and/or insecticide, either organic or chemical. Not everyone use insecticides, though. The warm soaking process usually brings out bugs that may hitchhiked on the corms.

I would order one just to satisfy myself for the controversy. But I have issues with Sellers that do not post the shipping cost in their ad. I hate to be surprised by the higher cost of shipping, just to make up for the low price. Some Sellers purposely under value their product but overprice their shipping charges. That way, if you return the item, they've already made their profit via the shipping, and they have their product back to sell to some other Sucker.

xavierdlc61887

eitherway it doesnt have a corm look like its missing it

chong

The very brown tip at the base is the corm or pseudobulb. Otherwise, what you'll see are the rings of the pseudostem. And if that were so, that plant will only be good for cooking as a vegetable. And only the core.