Musa ingens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Musaceae
Genus: Musa
Species:
M. ingens
Binomial name
Musa ingens

The plant species Musa ingens, also known as the giant highland banana or Oem,[2] is the physically largest member of the family Musaceae and the only member of the section Ingentimusa. Growing in the tropical montane forests of New Guinea - Arfak Mountains Regency in Indonesia, its leaves can reach a length of 5 meters (16 feet) and a width of 1 m (39 in).[3] This, the largest herbaceous plant on earth, was completely unknown to science prior to 1960.[4]

Description

The "trunk" (actually the tightly rolled petioles (or stalks) of its leaves; the longest petioles of any known plant) is typically up to 15 m (49 ft) in height, and with the leaves having a total height of 20 m (66 ft). Since its discovery in 1954, though, taller individuals up to 30 m (98 ft) have been reported,[5] but these measurements have yet to be confirmed by a specific scientific study. Photos exist of M. ingens "trunks" up to 94 cm (37 in) in diameter at breast height.[6] Its fruit grows in a cluster weighing up to 60 kg (132 lb). This cluster is borne on a peduncle up to 10 cm (4 in) thick and up to 15 m (49 ft) in length, again the longest of any known plant. The large inflorescence can hold over 300 oblong fruits to 18 cm long that are filled with blackish-brown seeds and yellowish pulp that is edible, sweet, and delicious when cooked, and according to some, reminiscent of fine butternut squash mixed with a sweet banana with a dash of tangy lime and citrus added.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Plummer, J.; Kallow, S. & Janssens, S. (2020). "Musa ingens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T158541237A201905546. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  2. ↑ N.W. Simmonds, "Notes on Banana Taxonomy" KEW BULLETIN Vol. 14 # 2 (1960) p. 198. doi:10.2307/4114778
  3. ↑ Notes from Royal Bot. Garden Edinburgh Vol. 35 # 1 (1976) pp. 111-112
  4. ↑ Simmonds, Kew Bull. loc. cit.
  5. ↑ "Musa Ingens - Bananas Wiki".
  6. ↑ http://www.thestatworld.com/2015/12/musa-ingens-the-tallest-banana-plant-in-the-world.html
  7. ↑ "Musa ingens – Giant Highland Banana – Buy seeds at rarepalmseeds.com". Archived from the original on 2021-03-09.
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