Plantain Banana Musa balbiniana 5 Seeds USA Company

Musa balbisiana is a species of banana native to Southeast Asia and the Indo-Malay region. It's known for its wild bananas, which are often smaller and more fibrous than the cultivated varieties we commonly eat, like the Cavendish banana. This species plays a significant role in banana breeding programs, as it contributes desirable traits such as hardiness.

Musa balbisiana is a herbaceous perennial plant characterized by the following features:

Appearance

Height: It can grow up to 4-6 meters (13-20 feet) tall.

Leaves: The leaves are large, broad, and paddle-shaped, reaching lengths of about 2-3 meters (6.5-10 feet). They have a pronounced midrib and are typically bright green.

Stems: The plant has a pseudostem composed of tightly packed leaf bases, giving it a stout appearance.

Flowers and Fruit

Inflorescence: The flowers grow in a pendulous cluster known as a raceme. The flowers are usually yellow or cream-colored.

Fruit: The fruit is small and typically contains large seeds. Unlike cultivated bananas, the fruits are not commonly eaten due to their size and fibrous texture, but they are rich in nutrients.

Habitat

Distribution: Native to Southeast Asia, it thrives in tropical climates, often found in moist, shaded areas like forests and along riverbanks.

Ecological Role

Musa balbisiana serves as a food source for various wildlife and contributes to the overall biodiversity of its native ecosystems.

Growing Instructions for the Plantain Banana

The seeds have a hard seed coat that has to be treated, or scarified, in order for water to enter the seeds so that they can sprout. 1. Scarify the seeds by nicking or sanding the seed coat. The seeds can be sanded with sandpaper, a nail file or an emery board. 2. Soak the seed in water for 24-48 hours. 3. The seeds like moist, well-drained soil. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite. Put the soil in a pot. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet. 4. Put the seeds on the soil. 5. Cover the seeds with a layer of soil. 6. Water the seeds. 7. Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade.  The seeds can take 1 month or more to germinate. 8. When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.