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Musa troglodytarum

L. (1763)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Zingiberales Family: Musaceae Genus: Musa

borabora, fe‘i banana [fei banana], mai‘a hē‘ī [maia hei], mai‘a polapola [maia polapola]

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Polymorphic herbs 5–12 m tall, sap purple.

Stems: Pseudostems shiny black on lower portion, grading to bright green above, 3–8 m long, 20–55 cm in diameter at base.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, ascending. Blades 200–400 cm long, 40–60 cm wide. Base with a course basal sheath, sheathing bases closely overlapping and appressed to each other, forming an erect, herbaceous pseudostem from which the petioles depart at the summit (Pseudo)petioles 30–100 cm long. Surfaces bright green. Margins entire. Veins parallel. Petioles 20–50 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences erect, fruiting axis stout, 30–60 cm long, 7–12 cm in diameter. Flowers irregular, functionally unisexual, those subtended by the lower bracts pistillate, those subtended by the upper bracts staminate. Tepals 6, in 2 series, petaloid, upper 5 connate into a tubular structure, adaxial tepal distinct. Stamens 5 with 1 reduced staminode; filaments slender, distinct; anthers linear, dithecal. Ovary inferior (pistillate flowers), 3-celled, 2–12, 5–6 cm long, split to base adaxially, nectariferous, enclosed within green, lanceolate bracts ca. 30 cm long and 10 cm wide, ovary 2–8 cm long.

Fruit: Fruit variable in size and shape; stout; straight to slightly curved; 8–22 cm long; 4–8 cm in diameter; apex tapered to rounded; skin tough and leathery; ripening orange to reddish orange; flesh starchy; pale lemon yellow. Seeds absent or few; scattered; 4–6 mm in diameter; seed coat black; irregular; hard.

Ploidy: 2n = 20

Habitat: Sparingly cultivated and persisting in mesic to wet valleys at low elevations.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Introduced relatively recently, from Tahiti where it is used as a main starch crop, cooked when mature, similar to breadfruit; black stems used in weaving with hala (Wagner et al. 1990:1466).

  • Purple dye (sap)

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Naturalized
Maui Only found in cultivation
Hawai'i Only found in cultivation

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl. ed. 2: 1478 (1763)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1466 (K?, O, Mo?, M?, H? [only coll. at BISH is from 1960 in Pālolo Valley, O‘ahu]); Staples & Herbst 2005:707 (KEY), 710 (DESCR)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Musa troglodytarum L. Wahiawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Coker, A.H. s.n. Oahu BISH 3/16/1959
2 Musa troglodytarum L. Koolau Mts.; Palolo Valley ca. 1.5 mile above uppermost house Abundant in small area on Palolo stream. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Stone, B.C. 3428 Oahu BISH 5/6/1960
3 Musa troglodytarum L. waiale river Perrottetia, Elaeocarpus, Pipturus, Charpentiera, Hedyotis, Acacia koa, Psidium guajava PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-6 Oahu BISH 8/8/1927
4 Musa troglodytarum L. Hilo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. Collector Number: 30-27-7 Hawaii BISH 11/1/1926
5 Musa troglodytarum L. koolau mts.; palolo valley ca. 1.5 mile above uppermost house Diverse montane pricipitous slopes with small pockets of forest and vertical cliffs. Associated palnts; Poa mannii, Stenogyne campanulata, Lysimachia glutinosa, Melicope pallida, Nototrichium sp. nov., Dubautia, Acacia koa, Dryopteris unidentata, Metrosideros, Coprosma, Vaccinium dentatum, Lipochaeta, Wilkesia, Lobelia niihauensis, Chamaesyce, Lepidium, Exocarpos. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN stone, b.c. newhouse, j. collector number: 3428 Kauai BISH 5/6/1960
6 Musa troglodytarum L. Waimanalo, near Mauanawili division ridge PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oswald, O. s.n. Oahu BISH 3/22/1934
7 Musa troglodytarum L. Tantalus, U.S.Exp.Sta PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-8 Oahu BISH 10/12/1926
8 Musa troglodytarum L. wahiawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN coker, a.h. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/16/1959
9 Musa troglodytarum L. ? PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-14 Oahu BISH 10/20/1926
10 Musa troglodytarum L. koolau mts.; palolo valley ca. 1.5 mile above uppermost house Abundant in small area on Palolo stream. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN stone, b.c. newhouse, j. collector number: 3428 Oahu BISH 5/6/1960
11 Musa troglodytarum L. foster gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN potter, c. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 10/21/1958
12 Musa troglodytarum L. Kapaa Cultivated in lowland Metrosideros forest PRESERVED_SPECIMEN R. E. Palmer 31025 Oahu HAPI 3/5/1998
13 Musa troglodytarum L. O'ahu Cultivated in lowland Metrosideros forest UNKNOWN R. E. Palmer Oahu HAPI 3/5/1998
14 Musa troglodytarum L. tantalus, w.side PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-10 Oahu BISH 12/1/1926
15 Musa troglodytarum L. waimanalo, near mauanawili division ridge PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oswald, o. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/22/1934
16 Musa troglodytarum L. N. fork of Wailua River PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-32 Kauai BISH 2/1/1927
17 Musa troglodytarum L. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-14 Oahu BISH 10/20/1926
18 Musa troglodytarum L. mapuleku valley, molokai PRESERVED_SPECIMEN otto degener & kazuto nitta UPS 7/31/1928
19 Musa troglodytarum L. hilo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-7 Hawaii BISH 11/1/1926
20 Musa troglodytarum L. koolau mountains, palolo valley, oahu Metrosideros ravine; on humid dripping rocks PRESERVED_SPECIMEN b. c. stone 3482 Maui F 5/6/1960
21 Musa troglodytarum L. puna district, hawaiian acres subdivision, 9 rd (private land holding) PRESERVED_SPECIMEN r. e. palmer 31025 MO 3/5/1998
22 Musa troglodytarum L. Hilo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. (by Mr. Dranga) 30-27-7 Hawaii BISH 1926-00-00
23 Musa troglodytarum L. Puna District, Hawaiian Acres subdivision, 9 Rd (Private land holding) Cultivated in lowland Metrosideros forest PRESERVED_SPECIMEN R. E. Palmer 31025 NY 3/5/1998
24 Musa troglodytarum L. Koolau Mts., Palolo Valley In sm. area on Palolo stream PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Stone, B. C.; Newhouse, W. J. 3482 Oahu US 5/6/1960
25 Musa troglodytarum L. koolau mts., palolo valley Open bog community in wet forest PRESERVED_SPECIMEN b. c. stone & w. j. newhouse 3482 Maui US 5/6/1960
26 Musa troglodytarum L. mapulehu valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener & k. nitta 8110 Molokai US 7/31/1928
27 Musa troglodytarum L. hoary head mountains PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kauai US
28 Musa troglodytarum L. kahanu garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN US 5/15/1995
29 Musa troglodytarum L. tantalus, u.s.exp.sta PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-8 Oahu US 10/12/1926
30 Musa troglodytarum L. Koolau Mountains, Palolo Valley, Oahu Abundant in sm area on Palaolo Stream. abt. 1/2 mile above uppermost house. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Stone, B. C. 3482 Oahu US 5/6/1960
31 Musa troglodytarum L. hoary head mountains PRESERVED_SPECIMEN t. w. flynn Kauai US
32 Musa troglodytarum L. Waiale River PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-6 Maui BISH 1927-00-00
33 Musa troglodytarum L. n. fork of wailua river PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-32 Kauai BISH 2/1/1927
34 Musa troglodytarum L. Foster Gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Potter, C. s.n. Oahu BISH 10/21/1958
35 Musa troglodytarum L. Wahiawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Coker, A.H. s.n. Oahu BISH 3/16/1959
36 Musa troglodytarum L. Koolau Mts.; Palolo Valley ca. 1.5 mile above uppermost house Abundant in small area on Palolo stream. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Stone, B.C. 3428 Oahu BISH 5/6/1960
37 Musa troglodytarum L. waiale river Perrottetia, Elaeocarpus, Pipturus, Charpentiera, Hedyotis, Acacia koa, Psidium guajava PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-6 Oahu BISH 8/8/1927
38 Musa troglodytarum L. Hilo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. Collector Number: 30-27-7 Hawaii BISH 11/1/1926
39 Musa troglodytarum L. koolau mts.; palolo valley ca. 1.5 mile above uppermost house Diverse montane pricipitous slopes with small pockets of forest and vertical cliffs. Associated palnts; Poa mannii, Stenogyne campanulata, Lysimachia glutinosa, Melicope pallida, Nototrichium sp. nov., Dubautia, Acacia koa, Dryopteris unidentata, Metrosideros, Coprosma, Vaccinium dentatum, Lipochaeta, Wilkesia, Lobelia niihauensis, Chamaesyce, Lepidium, Exocarpos. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN stone, b.c. newhouse, j. collector number: 3428 Kauai BISH 5/6/1960
40 Musa troglodytarum L. Waimanalo, near Mauanawili division ridge PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oswald, O. s.n. Oahu BISH 3/22/1934
41 Musa troglodytarum L. Tantalus, U.S.Exp.Sta PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-8 Oahu BISH 10/12/1926
42 Musa troglodytarum L. wahiawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN coker, a.h. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/16/1959
43 Musa troglodytarum L. ? PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-14 Oahu BISH 10/20/1926
44 Musa troglodytarum L. koolau mts.; palolo valley ca. 1.5 mile above uppermost house Abundant in small area on Palolo stream. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN stone, b.c. newhouse, j. collector number: 3428 Oahu BISH 5/6/1960
45 Musa troglodytarum L. foster gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN potter, c. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 10/21/1958
46 Musa troglodytarum L. Kapaa Cultivated in lowland Metrosideros forest PRESERVED_SPECIMEN R. E. Palmer 31025 Oahu HAPI 3/5/1998
47 Musa troglodytarum L. O'ahu Cultivated in lowland Metrosideros forest UNKNOWN R. E. Palmer Oahu HAPI 3/5/1998
48 Musa troglodytarum L. tantalus, w.side PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-10 Oahu BISH 12/1/1926
49 Musa troglodytarum L. waimanalo, near mauanawili division ridge PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oswald, o. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/22/1934
50 Musa troglodytarum L. N. fork of Wailua River PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-32 Kauai BISH 2/1/1927
51 Musa troglodytarum L. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-14 Oahu BISH 10/20/1926
52 Musa troglodytarum L. mapuleku valley, molokai PRESERVED_SPECIMEN otto degener & kazuto nitta UPS 7/31/1928
53 Musa troglodytarum L. hilo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-7 Hawaii BISH 11/1/1926
54 Musa troglodytarum L. koolau mountains, palolo valley, oahu Metrosideros ravine; on humid dripping rocks PRESERVED_SPECIMEN b. c. stone 3482 Maui F 5/6/1960
55 Musa troglodytarum L. puna district, hawaiian acres subdivision, 9 rd (private land holding) PRESERVED_SPECIMEN r. e. palmer 31025 MO 3/5/1998
56 Musa troglodytarum L. Hilo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. (by Mr. Dranga) 30-27-7 Hawaii BISH 1926-00-00
57 Musa troglodytarum L. Puna District, Hawaiian Acres subdivision, 9 Rd (Private land holding) Cultivated in lowland Metrosideros forest PRESERVED_SPECIMEN R. E. Palmer 31025 NY 3/5/1998
58 Musa troglodytarum L. Koolau Mts., Palolo Valley In sm. area on Palolo stream PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Stone, B. C.; Newhouse, W. J. 3482 Oahu US 5/6/1960
59 Musa troglodytarum L. koolau mts., palolo valley Open bog community in wet forest PRESERVED_SPECIMEN b. c. stone & w. j. newhouse 3482 Maui US 5/6/1960
60 Musa troglodytarum L. mapulehu valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener & k. nitta 8110 Molokai US 7/31/1928
61 Musa troglodytarum L. hoary head mountains PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kauai US
62 Musa troglodytarum L. kahanu garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN US 5/15/1995
63 Musa troglodytarum L. tantalus, u.s.exp.sta PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-8 Oahu US 10/12/1926
64 Musa troglodytarum L. Koolau Mountains, Palolo Valley, Oahu Abundant in sm area on Palaolo Stream. abt. 1/2 mile above uppermost house. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Stone, B. C. 3482 Oahu US 5/6/1960
65 Musa troglodytarum L. hoary head mountains PRESERVED_SPECIMEN t. w. flynn Kauai US
66 Musa troglodytarum L. Waiale River PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-6 Maui BISH 1927-00-00
67 Musa troglodytarum L. n. fork of wailua river PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-32 Kauai BISH 2/1/1927
68 Musa troglodytarum L. Foster Gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Potter, C. s.n. Oahu BISH 10/21/1958
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