Musaceae (banana family)

Musaceae (banana family)

The Musaceae family is made up of three genera, Musa, Ensete and Musella. Musa is the largest group, with about 35 species. Musa species are divided into different sections. According to recent DNA work, there are three sections: Musa (with 22 chromosomes), Callimusa (with 20 chromosomes) and Ingentimusa (with 14 chromosomes). There are about seven Ensete species and one Musella species.

Musa rosacea (Jacquin, 1804)
© Missouri Botanical Garden (www.botanicus.org)

Species belonging to the Musaceae are native to tropical Africa, eastern Asia, Australia and the South Pacific. They are distinguished from other Zingiberales by having spirally arranged leaves, separate male and female flowers, and pulpy fruits.

The following bananas are growing at Montoso Gardens:

Scientific Name	Common Name	Plant Family
Ensete glaucum	snow banana	Musaceae
Musa beccarii	ornamental banana	Musaceae
Musa coccinea	scarlet banana	Musaceae
Musa laterita	bronze banana	Musaceae
Musa mannii	Indian dwarf banana	Musaceae
Musa ornata 'Lavender'	lavender banana	Musaceae
Musa ornata 'Macro'	giant lavender banana	Musaceae
Musa ornata 'Royal Purple'	ornamental banana	Musaceae
Musa ornata 'Royal Red'	ornamental banana	Musaceae
Musa sp. 'Ae Ae'	variegated banana	Musaceae
Musa sp. 'Hua Moa'	banana	Musaceae
Musa sp. 'Lacknau'	plantain	Musaceae
Musa sp. 'Mahoi Double'	double banana	Musaceae
Musa sp. 'Praying Hands'	banana	Musaceae
Musa sp. 'Super Dwarf'	banana	Musaceae
Musa sp. 'Thousand Fingers'	banana	Musaceae
Musa velutina	baby pink banana	Musaceae
Musa velutina x Musa ornata 'Purple Passion'	purple banana	Musaceae
Musa zebrina	bloodleaf banana	Musaceae
Musella lasiocarpa	Chinese yellow banana	Musaceae

Montoso Gardens, Hwy 120 Km 18.9, Box 692, Maricao, Puerto Rico 00606 USA

http://www.montosogardens.com