Lotus banana
Musa balbisiana

Family: Musaceae

What it is like

A large herb. It grows 3-10 m tall. It keeps growing from year to year by re-growing new stalks from the underground root stock. The leaves are green and 3 m long. The flowers are purple. The fruit are pale yellow. They are 3 sided and 8 cm long. The fruit have seeds. This is the small diploid. The flower is pink and yellow and resembles a lotus bud. The fruit are in an upright spike. It needs pollination to produce seeds. Many bananas are hybrids between acuminata and balbisiana. See Musa x paradisiaca

There are about 30 Musa species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in damp forests in N Thailand. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Colombia, Cuba, Fiji, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sikkim, South America, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The inner part of the stem is used to make curries. The flowers are also cooked and used in some dishes. The ripe fruit can be eaten but can contain many seeds. The fruit are boiled and eaten. The buds are cooked and eaten.

Flowering stems and pith are sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Stem, flowers, fruit, buds, seeds, roots

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or suckers.

Its other names

Local names

Aatha kala, Amoting, Athia kol, Athiya kol, Bankela, Bankera, Bayating, Bhim thalit, Bicha kala, Bonkera, Cha ngok, Chang-el, Changlong, Chungbi anguoba, Chuoi rung do, Fae, Fahie, Kait dewsan, Ketsakhwe, Kluai taanee, Kluay-bua, Klue tani, Kola, Kopa, Laphu, Lobong, Numpui chi, Paksum, Pisang bau, Sau-su-sheth, Vai, Wegoin

Synonyms

Musa rosacea Jacq.; Musa brachycarpa Backer; Musa sapientum Linn. var. pruinosa King ex Cowan; [or Musa BB and BBB Groups]; non-hybrid forms of edible plantains