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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. waimanalo, near mauanawili division ridge PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oswald, o. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/22/1934
2 Musa troglodytarum L. N. fork of Wailua River PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-32 Kauai BISH 2/1/1927
3 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
4 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
5 Musa troglodytarum L. puna district, hawaiian acres subdivision, 9 rd (private land holding) PRESERVED_SPECIMEN r. e. palmer 31025 MO 3/5/1998
6 Musa troglodytarum L. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-14 Oahu BISH 10/20/1926
7 Musa troglodytarum L. hilo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-7 Hawaii BISH 11/1/1926
8 Musa troglodytarum L. Hilo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. (by Mr. Dranga) 30-27-7 Hawaii BISH 1926-00-00
9 Musa troglodytarum L. mapuleku valley, molokai PRESERVED_SPECIMEN otto degener & kazuto nitta UPS 7/31/1928
10 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
11 Musa troglodytarum L. kahanu garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN US 5/15/1995
12 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
13 Musa troglodytarum L. mapulehu valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener & k. nitta 8110 Molokai US 7/31/1928
14 Musa troglodytarum L. hoary head mountains PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kauai US
15 Musa troglodytarum L. tantalus, u.s.exp.sta PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-8 Oahu US 10/12/1926
16 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
17 Musa troglodytarum L. hoary head mountains PRESERVED_SPECIMEN t. w. flynn Kauai US
18 Musa troglodytarum L. Waiale River PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-6 Maui BISH 1927-00-00
19 Musa troglodytarum L. Wahiawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Coker, A.H. s.n. Oahu BISH 3/16/1959
20 Musa troglodytarum L. Foster Gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Potter, C. s.n. Oahu BISH 10/21/1958
21 Musa troglodytarum L. n. fork of wailua river PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-32 Kauai BISH 2/1/1927
22 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
23 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
24 Musa troglodytarum L. Waimanalo, near Mauanawili division ridge PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oswald, O. s.n. Oahu BISH 3/22/1934
25 Musa troglodytarum L. Hilo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. Collector Number: 30-27-7 Hawaii BISH 11/1/1926
26 Musa troglodytarum L. Tantalus, U.S.Exp.Sta PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-8 Oahu BISH 10/12/1926
27 Musa troglodytarum L. wahiawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN coker, a.h. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/16/1959
28 Musa troglodytarum L. Kapaa Cultivated in lowland Metrosideros forest PRESERVED_SPECIMEN R. E. Palmer 31025 Oahu HAPI 3/5/1998
29 Musa troglodytarum L. ? PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-14 Oahu BISH 10/20/1926
30 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
31 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
32 Musa troglodytarum L. O'ahu Cultivated in lowland Metrosideros forest UNKNOWN R. E. Palmer Oahu HAPI 3/5/1998
33 Musa troglodytarum L. tantalus, w.side PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-10 Oahu BISH 12/1/1926
34 Musa troglodytarum L. foster gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN potter, c. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 10/21/1958
35 Musa troglodytarum L. waimanalo, near mauanawili division ridge PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oswald, o. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/22/1934
36 Musa troglodytarum L. N. fork of Wailua River PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-32 Kauai BISH 2/1/1927
37 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
38 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
39 Musa troglodytarum L. puna district, hawaiian acres subdivision, 9 rd (private land holding) PRESERVED_SPECIMEN r. e. palmer 31025 MO 3/5/1998
40 Musa troglodytarum L. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-14 Oahu BISH 10/20/1926
41 Musa troglodytarum L. hilo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-7 Hawaii BISH 11/1/1926
42 Musa troglodytarum L. Hilo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. (by Mr. Dranga) 30-27-7 Hawaii BISH 1926-00-00
43 Musa troglodytarum L. mapuleku valley, molokai PRESERVED_SPECIMEN otto degener & kazuto nitta UPS 7/31/1928
44 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
45 Musa troglodytarum L. kahanu garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN US 5/15/1995
46 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
47 Musa troglodytarum L. mapulehu valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener & k. nitta 8110 Molokai US 7/31/1928
48 Musa troglodytarum L. hoary head mountains PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kauai US
49 Musa troglodytarum L. tantalus, u.s.exp.sta PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-8 Oahu US 10/12/1926
50 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
51 Musa troglodytarum L. hoary head mountains PRESERVED_SPECIMEN t. w. flynn Kauai US
52 Musa troglodytarum L. Waiale River PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-6 Maui BISH 1927-00-00
53 Musa troglodytarum L. Wahiawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Coker, A.H. s.n. Oahu BISH 3/16/1959
54 Musa troglodytarum L. Foster Gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Potter, C. s.n. Oahu BISH 10/21/1958
55 Musa troglodytarum L. n. fork of wailua river PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-32 Kauai BISH 2/1/1927
56 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
57 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
58 Musa troglodytarum L. Waimanalo, near Mauanawili division ridge PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oswald, O. s.n. Oahu BISH 3/22/1934
59 Musa troglodytarum L. Hilo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. Collector Number: 30-27-7 Hawaii BISH 11/1/1926
60 Musa troglodytarum L. Tantalus, U.S.Exp.Sta PRESERVED_SPECIMEN MacDaniels, L.H. 30-27-8 Oahu BISH 10/12/1926
61 Musa troglodytarum L. wahiawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN coker, a.h. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/16/1959
62 Musa troglodytarum L. Kapaa Cultivated in lowland Metrosideros forest PRESERVED_SPECIMEN R. E. Palmer 31025 Oahu HAPI 3/5/1998
63 Musa troglodytarum L. ? PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-14 Oahu BISH 10/20/1926
64 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
65 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
66 Musa troglodytarum L. O'ahu Cultivated in lowland Metrosideros forest UNKNOWN R. E. Palmer Oahu HAPI 3/5/1998
67 Musa troglodytarum L. tantalus, w.side PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 30-27-10 Oahu BISH 12/1/1926
68 Musa troglodytarum L. foster gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN potter, c. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 10/21/1958
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