Musa acuminata sumatrana

Musa acuminata L. A. Colla subsp. sumatrana (O. Beccari) A. N. Other

Accepted name ? Musa acuminata L. A. Colla subsp. zebrina (L. B. van Houtte) A. N. Other
Synonyms

 

Authorities  
Section Eumusa
Distribution Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java
Description  
References Hotta 1989, Novak 1992
Comments The relationship between certain of the sub-species of Musa acuminata is somewhat confusing.

A number of horticultural 'forms' of some of the subspecies seem to be in cultivation.  These tend to be given different names by different nurseries or different literature e.g. 'Sumatrana', 'Zebrina', 'Rubra' and 'Rojo'.  The names are used sometimes as if they were species names.  This is wrong.   The names are used sometimes as if they were cultivar names.  This is also probably wrong in a formal sense because most are probably referable to one subspecies or another.  However, some plants may indeed be distinct selections worthy of cultivar status.  Unless and until someone collects all the cultivated 'forms' together in one place and evaluates them side-by-side it is likely not to be possible to determine their true individual status.


 


last revision 23 April 2003