In the botanical sense, the banana tree is a perennial. It impresses with a height of 6 to 9 meters. The leaves grow up to 6 meters long. Find out more about the flower, origin and use of the Musa.
What is a banana tree and how is it used?
The banana tree (Musa) is a perennial that can grow up to 9 meters high. The banana is one of the oldest cultivated plants and is divided into fruit, cooking and textile bananas. The main export countries are Central and South America, with annual per capita consumption in Germany being 18 kilograms.
History and origins
The banana is one of the oldest cultivated plants on earth. Historians recorded their cultivation as early as the prehistoric era. During the first century AD it was brought to Africa by Arabs.
Consequently, the term “banana” has its roots in Arabic. In the German translation the word means “finger”. The botanist Carl von Linné first named it after the Italian doctor Antonius Musa.
In the 15th century, Musa spread with the Portuguese to South America, Europe and the Canary Islands.
Flowers and fruits
The axis of the enchanting banana flowers reaches a length of up to one meter. Yellowish flowers develop on it. Hummingbirds, flying foxes, bats and hawkmoths pollinate these flowers.
It takes around 14 to 18 months from flowering to fruiting. The fruit takes an average of 3 months to ripen in a (sub-)tropical climate. The wild banana impresses with large seeds. In contrast, the cultivated plant produces relatively large fruits without seeds.
Usage
The Musa is divided into three different varieties:
- Fruit banana (dessert banana)
- Plantain (plantain)
- Textile banana (Musa textilis)
The yellow fruit banana is very common in this country with its digestible, sweet taste. In contrast, the plantain is an important part of the daily menu, especially in the countries where it is grown. The resilient fibers of the textile banana are still an important component for the production of rope and paper.
Economic importance
In world trade, the banana is positioned as a fundamental export good, right behind corn, wheat and sugar. The most important export countries are in Central and South America. Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama and Ecuador come first.
From there they are shipped to Europe shortly before ripening. In Germany, annual per capita consumption is 18 kilograms.
Tips & Tricks
The banana enriches the Central European menu in many ways. As fresh fruit, dried or frozen, it delights all generations.