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Musa rubra Wall. ex Kurz
Family Name: | Musaceae |
Synonyms: | Musa laterita Cheesman |
Common Name: | Bronze banana, 腊红梦幻蕉, 缅甸橙色花巴蕉 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
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Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Maximum Height | 2 m |
Biogeography
Native Distribution | India, Myanmar, Thailand |
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Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
Others - Plant Morphology | Plants have green, slender pseudostems that grow up to 2 m in height that do not have any wax bloom on them. Leaves are medium dark green in colour with reddish midribs. Size of leaf can be up to 1.5 m long and 0.4 m wide and joined to petioles that can be as long as 0.5 m. Leaf shape is obovate with a truncated apex.Produces an erect inflorescence with brick-red bracts. Fruits are borne on a very compact bunch and pressed parallel to the rachis. Individual fruits can reach 10 cm long, which turn yellow when ripe. Seeds are black, round and flattened on one side.Plant produces suckers freely that emerge far from the mother plant when grown in the ground. Adopts a rather open habit and can become an unruly plant that soon "travels" from its initial planted location. Long rhizomes will not be apparent if plant is grown in a container.Specific name "laterita" refers to the brick-red colour which is similar to that of laterite, a type of tropical soil.Plants are best grown under semi-shaded conditions, although they can be adapted to grow under direct sunshine. Brighter light conditions will lead to shorter plants. Grow best if planted in fertile, well draining soil that is enriched with organic matter. Keep the roots moist at all times. Propagated by seeds, suckers or division. |
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Landscaping Features
Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
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Landscape Uses | General, Container Planting |
Usage Hazard - Cons | Invasive / Potentially Invasive |
Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | Running rhizomes - can become a nuisance as new plants appear far from where it was initially planted. |
Plant Care and Propagation
Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
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Water Preference | Lots of Water |
Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
Propagation Method | Seed, Stolon / Runner, Sucker, Division |
Foliar
Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
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Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny |
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 | Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
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Floral (Angiosperm)
Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
Flower Colour(s) | Red |
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Fruit, Seed and Spore
Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
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Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
Image Repository
Others
Master ID | 952 |
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Species ID | 2246 |
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. |