Musa pigmaea

Musa pigmaea
M. Hotta nomen nudum, Kagoshima University Research Centre for the South Pacific, Occasional Papers No. 16: 73 (1989).

Accepted name Musa pigmaea M. Hotta nomen nudum, Kagoshima University Research Centre for the South Pacific, Occasional Papers No. 16: 73 (1989).
Synonyms  
Authorities Hotta 1989.
Section Callimusa
Distribution Borneo.
Description This species is known to exist but is very poorly known and has not yet been formally described.
References Hotta 1989, Jong & Argent 2001, Simmonds & Weatherup 1990, Wong et al 2001.
Comments The sectional status of Musa pigmaea is currently problematic.  Musa pigmaea is "closely related" to Musa beccarii N. W. Simmonds according to Hotta.  If its affinities really are with M. beccarii this rather suggests it belongs wherever that rather better known species belongs.  Simmonds and Weatherup 1990 transferred M. beccarii to section Callimusa out of incertae sedis.  Jong & Argent 2001 maintained M. beccarii as incertae sedis.  Based on its seed structure, chromosome number and AFLP results, Wong et al 2001 "confidently placed" M. beccarii within section Australimusa.   So is M. pigmaea also section Australimusa?  There is no information on which to base any decision.  The question may be moot anyway if as Wong et al suggest sections Australimusa and Callimusa can no longer be maintained as distinct.

I have left M. pigmaea in Callimusa pending further information.

With acknowledgements to Markku Häkkinen.


 


last revision 23 April 2003