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6 unusual facts about Musa balbisiana


Blood banana

It is known as the Mai'a 'Oa in Hawaiian, though the name is also applied to the species Musa balbisiana which was introduced later on.

Fe'i banana

Molecular analysis of bananas with this growth habit from Papua New Guinea has shown evidence of genetic input from M. acuminata and M. balbisiana, the parents of the section Musa cultivars.

They are distinctly different from the much more common bananas and plantains derived from Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana.

Musa acuminata

It is the progenitor of modern edible bananas, along with Musa balbisiana.

acuminata was later introduced into mainland Indochina into the range of another ancestral wild banana species - Musa balbisiana, a hardier species of lesser genetic diversity than M. acuminata.

Musa balbisiana

It is one of the ancestors of modern cultivated bananas along with Musa acuminata.



see also