Musa salaccensis
Family: Musaceae
What it is like
A large banana family herb. It grows about 3-4 m tall. It has a clump of false stems from a rootstock. These are at some distance from the main plant. The leaves have long leaf stalks. The leaves are sword shaped and 100-175 cm long by 30-40 cm wide. The flowering shoot is at the top and the stalk has red or green hairs. The bracts are reddish with a yellow tip. The fruit have 1-4 sections that are angular. There are several oblong seeds.
There are about 30 Musa species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows along the edges of forests and near water. It grows up to 1,200 m above sea level. It grows in areas where the temperature are between 24-30°C. It is best with an annual rainfall between 1,200-3,000 mm. It needs well-drained soils. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It is best with a pH between 5.5-7.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Indonesia, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The flowering shoot is cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The lower part of the false stem is eaten fresh of boiled and used in curries.
Edible parts
Spadix, stem, flowering shoot
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Kole berit, Pisang karok, Sole, Tjao sole
Synonyms
Probably not a validly published name.