| Description |
Stoloniferous. Stem slender,
cylindrical, 6 - 10 ft. high. Leaves narrow-oblong, smaller and firmer in texture
than in M. sapientum, rounded at the base, glaucous, tinged with violet or red
beneath when young ; petiole a foot or more long. Spike drooping, finally as long as
the leaves ; bracts reddish, the upper part only persisting ; male flowers deciduous.
Fruit cylindrical, angled, rather curved, umbonate at the apex, rather dry,
reddish-violet, very palatable, with a violet pulp, and a rather musky scent.
Distribution:- This species is cultivated in Polynesia and especially in New
Caledonia, where it bears the name Colaboute, and is said by Vieillard to be wild there.
It produces no fertile seeds. It is in cultivation in this country [U.K.] and there is a drawing at Kew by Fitch of a plant that flowered
in the Gardens many years ago. The stem yields a textile fibre which is used for
fish baskets, &c. (Anon.
1906).
Trunk slender, 6 - 10 ft. long,
suckering. Leaves narrow-oblong, smaller and firmer in texture than in the banana,
glaucous, tinged with red or violet beneath when young. Inflorescence drooping;
bracts reddish, the upper only persisting; male flowers deciduous. Fruit
cylindrical, angled, rather curved, rather dry, reddish violet, very palatable, with a
violet pulp with a rather musky scent. Wild in New Caledonia (native name
Colabonte), yielding textile fibre, which is used for fish-baskets, &c.
(Fawcett 1913).
Height
to 3m. Pseudostem stoloniferous. Leaves narrow oblong, glaucous, purple or red
beneath when young. Inflorescence nodding, bracts reddish. Fruit angled, flesh
red.
(RHS 1956). |