Wild Banana

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Wild Banana
• Cavendish banana
• Chinese banana
• banana
• dwarf banana
• edible banana
• apple bananas

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Zingiberales. Finally, it is a member of the family Musaceae and falls under the genus Musa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning several continents and regions. In Southwestern Europe, its presence can be noted specifically within Spain. It also inhabits the Macaronesia region, particularly across the Canary Islands. Moving to West Tropical Africa, the species is found in both Guinea and Senegal. Finally, its distribution extends to East Tropical Africa within the borders of Tanzania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Musa acuminata is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution that allows it to inhabit diverse tropical landscapes. This species thrives across a significant vertical gradient, with its presence recorded from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL. On average, the plant is most frequently situated at a mean elevation of 1200 m AMSL, indicating a preference for mid-elevation tropical zones. This wide elevational range suggests an ability to adapt to varying atmospheric pressures and temperature fluctuations inherent in moving from coastal lowlands to montane environments.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Musa acuminata is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, ensuring its persistence through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit, the plant functions as both a phanerophyte, possessing visible above-ground structures, and is classified as a cryptophyte, relying on its underground storage organs to survive unfavorable conditions. Furthermore, it exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage throughout much of its cycle rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Musa acuminata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, lacking traditional woody tissue. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it exists as an independent organism rather than a parasite. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a maximum height of 6 m, with an average plant height of approximately 3.9 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

3.9 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Musa acuminata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits significant morphological variation in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 100 cm to a maximum of 250 cm. Complementing this longitudinal scale, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 50 cm and a maximum of 70 cm, maintaining a mean width of approximately 60 cm. From a structural and water-management perspective, the species is not classified as succulent, indicating a different strategy for moisture retention compared to succulent taxa. Furthermore, Musa acuminata does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external nitrogen sources from the soil rather than symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation to support its physiological development and growth.

Leaf length max:

250 cm

Leaf length min:

100 cm

Leaf width max:

70 cm

Leaf width mean:

60 cm

Leaf width min:

50 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Musa acuminata is characterized by a flowering period that is highly flexible, typically spanning from January through December, though the exact timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. The plant produces a distinctive spike inflorescence, which features flowers of a striking violet color. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit that matures to a bright yellow color. These fruits exhibit specific morphological dimensions, maintaining a minimum length of 9 cm, a mean length of 9 cm, and reaching a maximum length of up to 12 cm. Regarding the movement of its reproductive units, the species exhibits an anthropochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning its distribution is significantly influenced by human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit colour :

yellow

Fruit length max:

12 cm

Fruit length mean:

9 cm

Inflorescence :

spike

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Musa acuminata has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, stem.

Fruit

1. Scientific reports

Leaf

1. Scientific reports

Stem

1. Scientific reports

Chemicals

Musa acuminata has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gallic acid, quercetin, 2-hydroxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one, 3B, 4-Epicyclomusalenone.

Gallic acid

1. Scientific reports
2. Food chemistry
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

quercetin

1. Scientific reports
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

2-hydroxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one

1. Scientific reports

3B

1. Genetica

4-Epicyclomusalenone

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE

1. Journal of medicinal food

BORON

1. Data in brief

CALCIUM

1. Data in brief

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

CINNAMIC ACID

1. Scientific reports

Activities

Musa acuminata has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiplasmodial.

Antioxidant

1. Scientific reports

Antiplasmodial

1. Scientifica

Conditions

Musa acuminata has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Neurodegenerative Diseases, iron deficiency, magnesium deficiency, neurological disorders, potassium deficiency.

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Iron deficiency

1. Data in brief

Magnesium deficiency

1. Data in brief

Neurological disorders

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Potassium deficiency

1. Data in brief

Ulcerative colitis

1. Scientific reports