| The
nomenclature of what might be called the Musa paradisiaca complex is particularly
confused. According to Burkill 1935 Musa paradisiaca subsp.
seminifera J. G. Baker is more or less equivalent to Musa seminifera J. de
Loureiro.
The
construction given in GRIN, Musa x
paradisiaca L. subsp. seminifera (J. de Loureiro) K. M. Schumann, is therefore
presumably derived from more or less the same plant. GRIN states that the name is of
uncertain application only possibly referring to a taxon ascribable Musa balbisiana.
One of the subspecies of Musa paradisiaca referred to
in the RHS Dictionary (2nd edition, 1956) and applied to what were thought to be seeded
forms of the plant (seminifera means 'seed bearing'). In retrospect it can
be seen that this is where the Musa nomenclature system based on Musa paradisiaca began
to get into real trouble. It is most unsatisfactory to give to a seed-bearing
diploid plant the status of a sub-species of a seedless triploid (Musa paradisiaca subsp.
seminifera).
I do not know to what plant Musa paradisiaca subsp.
seminifera specifically refers but four varieties are each ascribable to a species as
follows:
- Musa paradisiaca subsp. seminifera var. dubia
= ? Musa griersonii
- Musa paradisiaca subsp. seminifera var. hookeri
= Musa sikkimensis
- Musa paradisiaca subsp. seminifera var. pruinosa
= Musa balbisiana
- Musa paradisiaca subsp. seminifera var. thomsonii
= Musa thomsonii
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