Musa dulcissima

Musa dulcissima T. Nakai, Bull. Tokyo Sci. Mus., No. 22. II: 13 (1948).

Accepted name Musa (? group) 'Pisang Lampung' or Pisang Lampoeng'

or

Musa x paradisiaca L., Species Plantarum : 1043 (1753) (probably)

Synonyms  
Authorities Nakai himself gives the local name.

The World Checklist of Monocotyledons gives Musa dulcissima Nakai, Bull. Tokyo Sci. Mus. 22: 13 (1948) as an accepted name.

Section  
Distribution  
Description  
References Index Kewensis, Nakai 1948 : 13.
Comments Published as Musa dulcissima the "x" is added to indicate its presumed hybridity.  In this context Musa x paradisiaca is effectively the same as "an undetermined cultivated banana".  This should not be read as implying that Musa x dulcissima is Musa (AAB group) 'French' plantain, Cheesman's identification of Musa x paradisiaca L. (Cheesman 1948).

This is one of several Indonesian banana cultivars given a spurious species name by Takenosin Nakai. Nakai says of it in his idiosyncratic English,

Musa dulcissima Nakai. sp. nova (Pisang Lampung)

Being the origin of Lampoeng state in the southernmost Sumatra, it received the native name Pisang Lampoeng. It is not cultivated Mid- or East-Java as yet, but is not rare in Banten and Bogor states of West-Java. The best time to eat is when the fruits lost even the slightest shade of green. Then they taste sweet and nice, full of flavour. However, two days later they rapidly lose this nice taste and flavour. Natives make special banana-liquor from them. I shall recommend this as the best home banana though it is too easy wrotten for commercial purpose.

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last updated 30/04/2008