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Musella lasiocarpa (Franch.) C.Y.Wu
| Family Name: | Musaceae |
| Synonyms: | Ensete lasiocarpum, Musella splendida, Musa lasiocarpa |
| Common Name: | Chinese Dwarf Banana, Golden Lotus Banana, 地涌金莲 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 0.9 m to 1.5 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 0.9 m to 1.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | China (Yunan) |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous perennial up to 1.5 m. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Grey-green, lanceolate leaves are held semi-erect to erect in a radial pattern around the top of the pseudostem (0.3-0.6 m long). |
| Stems | The conical pseudostem forms a trunk-like structure. |
| Flowers | Showy inflorescence known as a terminal panicle (0.2-0.3 m long) is borne at the tip of the pseudostem. The inflorescence is composed of yellow tubular flowers and yellow, waxy bracts. The bracts are triangular with edges curled inwards and arranged in an overlapping star-shaped pattern that resembles a lotus flower. The bracts slowly unfold 1 at a time, revealing a row of small tubular flowers at the base of the bract. |
| Fruit | Small fruits are inedible (5 cm long). |
| Cultivation | It grows best in consistently moist, but well-drained soil. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb or Spice) |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Slow |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Silver / Grey |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) Remarks | Greyish Green |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 950 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2244 |
| 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. |