Musaceae
Zingiberidae: Zingiberales. The Musaceae are large, often treelike
perennial herbs comprising 2 genera and about 45 species. The leaves are alternate and
very large, with the proximal concentric, appressed sheathing portions comprising a
pseudotrunk from which the individual petioles and blades diverge. The blades are simple
with a prominent midrib and numerous penni-parallel lateral veins. Eventually, an
inflorescence axis arising from the corm grows upward through the channel formed by the
overlapping leaf bases and produces a terminal series of large overlapping bracts, each of
which subtends and hides a cymose cluster of flowers. As each cyme reaches anthesis, the
subtending bract reflexes to expose the flowers and eventually abscises from the
inflorescence axis. The flowers are zygomorphic and functionally unisexual, the proximal
ones being female and the distal ones male. The perianth comprises 2 series of 6 petaloid
tepals, 5 of which are connate into a 5-lobed tube leaving one inner segment free. The
androecium usually consists of 5 fertile stamens and a staminode that is opposite the free
tepal. The gynoecium consists of a single compound pistil of 3 carpels, a single style,
and an inferior ovary with 3 locules, each containing numerous axile ovules. The fruit is
a berry, usually with a leathery, separable exocarp.
Each "thumbnail" image below is linked to a larger photograph.
|
Musa velutina, seeded banana. This photo shows fruits developing
proximally and functionally male flowers at anthesis near the tip of the inflorescence.
Note the reflexed pink bract subtending the cluster of yellow flowers. Additional clusters
of flowers are still hidden by the remaining bracts. In the photo on the right, the
tubular corolla of one of the flowers has been torn open to reveal the 5 functional
stamens. |
|
Musa x paradisiaca, edible banana. This is the seedless
banana of commerce. Note the developing fruit and the cluster of unopened terminal bracts
that hide developing male flowers. In the photo at the top right, the terminal bracts have
been peeled back to reveal the functionally male flowers. The lower photo is a male
flower. Note 5 functional yellow stamens. There is no stamen opposite the free inner
perianth segment which is facing the camera in this photo. However, the cream colored
style of the non-functional pistil is in view in the center of the flower. |
 |
Musa x paradisiaca, popo'ulu. This Hawaiian cultivar was
used primarily for cooking. |
 |
Musa paradisiaca ssp. normalis, plantain or mai'a. This
is another of the many forms of cooking bananas or plantains grown in Hawaii. |
 |
Musa sp. Notice the attractive large orange bracts in this
species. |
 |
A moose (not to be confused with musa). Note the distinguishing
antlers. |
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