Musa tikap

Accepted name	none - an undetermined banana, but probably a form of Musa textilis sensu lato.
Synonyms
Authorities	The World Checklist of Monocotyledons lists Musa tikap Warb., Tropenpflanzer 7: 34 (1903) as an unplaced name.
Section
Distribution	Caroline Islands (that was where Warburg found it).
Description
References	Champion 1967 : 43, Cheesman 1949, Fawcett 1913 : 267, Index Kewensis, Uphof 1968, Warburg 1903.
Comments	According to Fawcett, M. tikap is "very near M. textilis but with a larger, straighter fruit, with greyish pulp and blackish brown larger seeds." Fawcett mentions that it is the origin of native hemp and Uphof also comments that the leaves yield a locally used fibre. Musa tikap is not mentioned by Cheesman in his discussion of M. textilis. I think that Musa tikap is most probably a form of Musa textilis, or perhaps a Musa textilis x Musa balbisiana hybrid introduced to Micronesia by the original inhabitants. Musa textilis is a useful fibre plant, originating in The Philippines from where it was spread by humans through trade or migration. Takuya Nagaoka informs me that "tikap" is the name for a fibre banana on Pohnpei and no doubt is the origin of the name applied by Warburg. I have not yet seen Warburg 1903 and I am not sure if he is reporting first- or second-hand information.