Musa alphurica

Musa alphurica G. E. Rumphius, Herb. Amboinense (1750)
Musa alphurica F. A. W. Miquel, Fl. Ind. Bat. 3: 589 (1855)   
    
Musa alphurica
G. E. Rumphius, Herb. Amboinense (1750)

Accepted name not determined, a cultivated banana.
Synonyms 1. Musa ceramica G. E. Rumphius
2. Musa berterii L. A. Colla
3. Musa sapientum L.
Authorities The synonyms are from:

1 & 2. Kurz 1877.
3. Index Kewensis (via M. berteri L. A. Colla)
Section  
Distribution  
Description  
References Champion 1967 : 38, Index Kewensis, Kurz 1877 : 138.
Comments I have not yet seen Rumphius' original publication but this is what Sulpiz Kurz had to say:

"
Pisang alphuru (Musa Alphurica, s. Ceramica of Rumph,) also called pisang ceram (kula hatuan of Hitoe.)  Similar to the common banana-tree, but the fruit-racemes are somewhat peculiar on account of bearing leaves on the peduncle, two of which are at the base and similar to those of the stem but shorter and rounder, then follow the other leaves which are small and narrow, and from each if them arises a thick green stalk on which grow a few fruits of which, however, only a few come to perfection.   These resemble in shape those of pisang batu or pisang swangi, but become sometimes a span long and as thick as a bone.  The pulp is whitish, of a more sourish taste than pisang medji, and more smeary.  The skin is thick, pale yellow and usually rupturing.  The rachis of the the raceme is angular or striped, the fruit-whorls somewhat remote.  The raceme does not end in a djantong [male bud],* and in this regard resembles pisang tandue or pisang karbouw.  It bears many black seeds like pisang batu, and usually two or more neighbouring fruits consolidate into one.

* But strange to say, Rumph distinctly figures not only a terminal djantong but very distinctly gives also the imbrication of its bracts.  Colla, who rechristens this banana Musa Berterii, simply copies Rumph without noticing this and other serious discrepancies between the figure and the description."

This "s" is short for "seu" meaning in this context "or".  Rumphius was a pre-Linnean author and lacking the dogmatism of his illustrious successor he was giving us a choice here, we could either call this plant Musa alphurica OR we could call it Musa ceramica, it was all the same to Rumphius.  I do not know the derivation of "alphuru/alphurica" but the name "ceram/ceramica" derives from the Indonesian island of Ceram or Seram in the Moluccas.

Musa alphurica F. A. W. Miquel, Fl. Ind. Bat. 3: 589 (1855).  

Accepted name not determined, a cultivated banana.
Synonyms  
Authorities  
Section  
Distribution  
Description  
References Champion 1967, Index Kewensis
Comments Is this simply the same as M. alphurica G. E. Rumphius?

This was probably a cultivar of banana referable to Musa paradisiaca subsp. sapientum according to Schumann cited in Champion or to Musa sapientum according to Index Kewensis.


 


last revision 23 April 2003