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Musa acuminata var. sumatrana
| Family Name: | Musaceae |
| Synonyms: | Musa sumatrana |
| Common Name: | Blood Banana, 美叶芭蕉 |
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Umbrella |
| Maximum Height | 2.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical Asia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Others - Plant Morphology | An ornamental banana with slender pseudostems that can grow up to a height of 2.5 m. Plant freely produces suckers close to the mother plant at its base. Highly ornamental leaves can reach up to an approximate length of 3.5 m and are covered randomly with wine red blotches. Leaf undersides are wine red also. Insignificant flowers and edible fruits up to 9 cm long are produced terminally. A relatively fast-growing ornamental banana that is best grown under semi-shaded conditions as full sun conditions can cause the attractive wine red blotches on the leaves to fade away. Grow in a sheltered location with well-drained and fertile soil that is protected from winds. Keep roots moist and cool and feed generously by applying a layer of compost as mulch around the base of the plant. Give ample spacing between plants so that leaves have space to spread out gracefully. Propagated easily from division of suckers. Plant can be used as a focal plant or mass planting in a garden. Suitable for container-growing. |
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Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting, General, Focal Plant |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Sucker, Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Red |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Rosulate / Rosette |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Truncate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Macrophyll ( 182.25cm2 - 1640.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Non Woody |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple, White, Yellow / Golden |
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| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
| Flowering Habit | Monocarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 947 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2241 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
