Species of the Musaceae arranged into their "old sections"

This list is not complete, there are still undescribed species.

It should be noted that the Musa sections are merely convenient divisions of the genus, they do not have any formal taxonomic significance, are not definitive, nor do they have equal rank.  Traditionally, Musa sections were circumscribed by chromosome number and phenotypic characters.  Recently the discovery of new species with anomalous characters and the application of genome analysis has revealed deficiencies in the traditional sections such that they may not survive much longer.  For example, there now appear to be species that "link" the sections.  Musa flaviflora in section Musa and Musa velutina in section Rhodochlamys appear to link these two 10-chromosome sections.  This link is exemplified by Musa ornata that seems to be a hybrid between M. flaviflora and M. velutina.  Similarly, Musa suratii has recently been interpreted as intermediate between the 11-chromosome sections Callimusa and Australimusa suggesting those sections cannot be maintained as distinct.  These examples show a blurring of the distinctness of the traditional sections.  Then again there are phenotypically similar species such as Musa paracoccinea and the unamed Chuoi Rung Hoa Sen with strange nail-headed seeds that do not neatly fit into the traditional sections.

The placement of some species in the sections is highly provisional, see notes.  The sections are likely to be revised significantly or perhaps abandoned completely in the future.

Based on a Table 1.1 in Stover & Simmonds 1987 but modified substantially by information from Simmonds 1960, Hotta 1967 (for which, acknowledgements to Markku Häkkinen), Argent 1976, Simmonds & Weatherup 1990, Jong & Argent 2001, Wong et al 2001.

Notes:

• Ensete wilsonii (Tutcher) Cheesman should probably be reduced under Ensete glaucum (Roxb.) Cheesman.

• Ensete Banta, Thailand.  There are reports that John Banta has found a new Ensete sp. in Thailand.

• Musa angcorensis Gagnep. is poorly known and may not be a good species.  Simmonds 1960 very tentatively placed it in section Callimusa but, if it exists at all, it is more likely to be section Rhodochlamys.

• Musa banksii F. Muell. seems to be confirmed as a species in section Musa (1) by Simmonds & Weatherup 1990 supporting the conclusion of Argent 1976 although Shepherd 1990 disagrees.

• Musa beccarii Simmonds was "confidently placed within section Australimusa" by Wong et al 2001 based on seed structure, chromosome number and AFLP results.   However, Shepherd 1999 gives the chromosome number as x (= 1n) = 9 so its position still seems somewhat anomalous and Jong & Argent 2001 maintain M. beccarii as species incertae sedis on this basis.

• Musa boman Argent is placed in section Australimusa as determined by Argent 1976 although it was transferred to section Musa (2) by Simmonds and Weatherup 1990 despite the fact that it had there an "anomalous" chromosome number of x (= 1n) = 10.

• Musa coccinea Andrews has been confirmed by Liu et al 2002 and by Argent and Kiew 2002 as the correct name for the plant often called Musa uranoscopos Lour. in the literature.

• Musa exotica Valmayor is described from Vietnam where it is known as Chuoi Rung Hoa Do.  It has previously been considered to belong in the Rhodochlamys but the fruits perpendicular to the rachis exclude it from this section as described by Cheesman.   Valmayor places it in the Callimusa.  It has the correct chromosome number but the diagnostic seed description is lacking.

• Musa flaviflora Simmonds (one of the "parents" of M. ornata according to Shepherd 1990) should perhaps be treated as a sub-species of Musa acuminata Colla according to Simmonds & Weatherup 1990.

• Musa griersonii Noltie is a good species and from its synonymy it must belong to section Musa.  I have tentatively placed it in section Musa (1) pending further information.

• Musa hirta Becc. is a good species although somewhat enigmatic.and its affinities with M. beccarii suggest it belongs to section Callimusa to which the latter was transferred by Simmonds and Weatherup 1990.  However, it should be noted that Jong & Argent 2001 maintain M. beccarii as incertae sedis and this must cast doubt also on the position of M. hirta.

• Musa insularimontana Hayata endemic to a single island off Taiwan is poorly known.   It is close to M. textilis and is perhaps vulnerable to reduction.

• Musa ingens Simmonds was placed in a new section Ingentimusa by Argent 1976 and is maintained there by Jong & Argent 2001.  Simmonds and Weatherup 1990 placed M. ingens in section Musa (2) although it has there an "anomalous" chromosome number x (= 1 n) = 7.

• Musa monticola (Hotta ex) Argent was placed tentatively in section Australimusa by Argent 1976 and confirmed there by Jong & Argent 2001 and Wong et al 2001.

• Musa ornata Roxb. seems to be a "secondary species" according to Shepherd 1990, a relic of a hybrid swarm between M. flaviflora and M. velutina.

• Musa paracoccinea A. Z Liu & D. Z. Li is placed in section Callimusa by the authors but not entirely convincingly.

• Musa pigmaea Hotta (nomen nudum as yet) is close to M. beccarii according to Hotta so presumably belongs in section Callimusa in which the latter is placed by Simmonds and Weatherup.  However, it should be noted that Jong & Argent 2001 maintain M. beccarii as incertae sedis and this must cast doubt also on the position of M. pigmaea.

• Musa sikkimensis Kurz is a good species allied to Musa nagensium Prain and I have placed it with the latter in section Musa (2) pending further information.

• Musa splendida A. Chev. has been re-discovered by Markku Häkkinen.  It has obvious phenotypic affinities with M. exotica and M. paracoccinea and while neither of these sit comfortably in the Callimusa it seems reasonable for the time being to include them all in that section.

• Musa suratii Argent appears to be intermediate between sections Callimusa and Australimusa suggesting that the two sections can no longer be maintained as distinct according to Wong et al 2001.

• Musa thomsonii Noltie is a good species and from its synonymy it must belong to section Musa.  I have placed it in section Musa (1) pending further information.

• Musa velutina Wendl. & Drude may be the same as Musa dasycarpa Kurz in which case the latter would have priority.

• Musa sp. "VN1-054" is placed here highly speculatively.  This is the plant known in Vietnam as Chuoi Rung Hoa Soan.  Vegetatively it is apparently close to Musa itinerans but it differs in its imbricate male bud.  It seems to be a hitherto unknown species.
  
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last revision 24 November 2002