ENCANTO FARMS
"we be bananas" in San Diego
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JAMAICAN RED
Cuban Red, Red
DESCRIPTION:
Truly nobility among banana cultivars. The brilliant [coloring] of both the plant and the fruit are beautiful and the plant is extremely vigorous, producing its delicious crop in 30 months time. The trunk, leaf petioles, midribs, and the fruit are varying shades of red. The pulp is cream orange colored, very aromatic and has a wonderful taste. (007) Highly ornamental plant with much red and purple in the pseudostem and leaves. The mature fruit can range in color from blood to scarlet red. Tender. (009) With its red trunk and huge deep green leaves, the Jamaican Red banana will add a tropical splash of color to any landscape. While the skin of the banana turns a deep burgundy when ripe, the creamy orange colored pulp is smooth and very delicious. This variety prefers full sun, plenty of moisure and fertilizer. (039) A tall version of the dwarf with the same characteristics. (063) Beautiful with various shades of red occuring on the trunk, leaf stems, veins and fruit. 4" long fruit with red skin and aromatic orange, strongly flavored flesh. 30 months to harvest. Very sensitive to cold. (052) The short, fat fruit is red with orange flesh and is a delicious dessert banana. Fruit production is slow - up to 18 months. It can withstand some wind but not flooding. (056) Brilliant colors, very vigorous producing delicious fruit. (096) Jamaican Red = Celat (AAB Group) (025)
TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 10-25' (009), 16' (039), 16-18' (056), 22' (052), 25' (007)
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PROBLEMS: Cold Sensitive.
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JANE'S BLACK MYSTERY
DESCRIPTION:
When grown side by side with Goldfinger, they proved to be the same. Which only moved the mystery to another variety which was supposed to be Goldfinger, and now waa not. This particular specimen was conspicuous by its very dark black trunk which we determined was due to environmental factors, where the trunk waas groing in total shade.(910)
TYPE: Dessert
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KAHIKI
DESCRIPTION:
There were over 70 varieties of native mai`a, such as the manini, mahoe, hapai, kahiki, ele ele, etc. In the old days there were 70 cultivated varieties of bananas that expert Hawaiian farmers nurtured and crossbred. (113)
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KALAMAGOL
DESCRIPTION:
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GENETICS: AABB (025)
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KALAPUA
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KALELA
DESCRIPTION:
[A] sport from 'Dwarf Brazilian' or Hawaiian 'Apple'. This sport produces a larger fruit. (032) [S]imilar to Dwarf Brazilian. (032)
TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 6-8' (032)
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KANDARIAN
KANDERIAN (?)
DESCRIPTION:
New ABB cultivar. Relatively small fruit but tasty cooking banana. Improved disease and wind resistance Very vigorous; 10 hands; fruit shaped like Bluggoe. (038)
TYPE: COOKING
GENETICS: ABB (038)
HEIGHT: 12' (910), 15-16' (038)
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KANDRIAN
KANDERIAN (?)
DESCRIPTION:
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GENETICS: ABB (038)
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KAPPA PAZHAM
Cheng Kathali
DESCRIPTION:
[A] red couloured variety, mostly cultivated in southern region of Kerala [India], especially in the higher elevations. The fruits and Pseudostem are also red in colour. The fruits are medium sized , 6" long and 4" in girth . Generally, each bunch has 8-10 clusters (hands) weighing 45-55 lbs. (050)
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KARPURAVALLI
DESCRIPTION:
This is as a special variety, shade loving, cultivated in the Coconut and Arecanut plantations as mixed crop. The fruits are medium sized with grayish in colour. Each bunch has 7-9 hands, weighing about 20-45 lbs. (050)
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KATALI
DESCRIPTION:
{EDIT} Katali (Phi); Pisang Siem (Ind); Pisang Awak (Mal); Kluai Namwa (Tha); Yakhime (Mya) (141)
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KAULAU
Kau Lau, Kaualau (?)
DESCRIPTION:
Hawaiian in heritage, this cooking banana is of excellent quality. A sturdy vigorous plant which produces large bunches of fruit. (061) Is a Hawaiian cooking banana of excellent quality. The bunches are large and are born on a sturdy vigorous plant. The Hawaiian name means "Rain on the Leaf". (007) A fine cooking banana, large bunches, vigorous. Average hardiness. (009) [A] vigorous Hawaiian plantain. This cultivar produces large bunches of excellent cooking bananas. (056) Hawaiian cooking banana of excellent quality. (096) (063) Hawaiian cooking banana with 6" long plump fruit with yellow flesh in very large bunches to 60+ lbs. (052)
TYPE: COOKING (007), PLANTAIN (056)
GENETICS: AAB (009)
HEIGHT: 16' (061) (009) (056)
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KAYINJA (Africa)
DESCRIPTION:
Fusarium wilt is a serious problem on many banana cultivars, [including] Chuoi Tay (Vietnam), Kayinja (Africa), [and] Kluai Namwa (Thailand) which belong to the ABB
'Pisang Awak' subgroup. (130) The remaining areas [of Rwanda] are considered as marginal for banana production in spite of their, sometimes, significant contribution to country banana production through extensive cultivation of mainly exotic brewing bananas: Kayinja. (134)
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GENETICS: ABB (134) (130)
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DISEASE: Fusarium susceptible.
KLUAI HOM
DESCRIPTION:
Weight: approximately 150 g/fruit. Thick, bright yellow skin, yellowish white flesh when ripe. Taste: sweet and fragrant. (128) (129)
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KLUAI KHAI
Klue Kai, Gluai Khai, Glooway Kai (=Golden Banana) (136)
DESCRIPTION:
Weight: approximately 50 g/fruit. Thick, golden yellow skin, yellowish-white flesh when ripe. Taste: sweet with appetizing fragrance. (128)Weight: approximately 50 gms./fruit. Thin skin, golden yellow when it is ripe; the flesh is yellowish white.
Taste: pungent sweet with appetizing fragrance. (136) (kai = egg)
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GENETICS: AA (025)
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KLUAI NAMWA
Pisang Awak, Kluai Nam Wa , Klue Namwa, Klue Maliong, Klue Ong (025)
DESCRIPTION:
A hardy growing plant with fruit that is good fresh or cooked (063) Kluai means banana in Thai. (128) Kluai Namwa Weight : approximately 100 g/fruit. Thick, smoky yellow skin, white sticky flesh when ripe. Taste: sweet. (128) (129) Fusarium wilt is a serious problem on many banana cultivars, [including] Chuoi Tay (Vietnam), Kayinja (Africa), Kluai Namwa (Thailand) which belong to the ABB
'Pisang Awak' subgroup. (130)
TYPE: DESSERT, COOKING
GENETICS: ABB (006) (025) (028) (130)
HEIGHT:
DISEASE :Black sigatoka resistant (126)
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KLUAI NAMWA KHOM
DESCRIPTION:
Kluai means banana in Thai. (128)
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KLUE TEPAROD
DESCRIPTION:
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GENETICS: ABBB (009)
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KO'AE
DESCRIPTION:
{EDIT} A beautiful native banana is the ko'ae (tropic bird), which has striped leaves and can be found near Kona. It is mainly sold as an ornamental nowadays because it produces few fruit. (143)
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KOFI
DESCRIPTION:
From Papau New Guinea, a member of the Iholena sub group which is a combination cooking-dessert banana that rated highest in the TREC (University of Florida / Tropical Research and Education Center) tasting tests. (004) (010) Sets 8-9 hands of fruit. Shorter variety, but very robust. Good suckerer with strong fleshed bananas. The flower is cream with an orange tip. Low susceptibility to yellow Sigatoka. (032) Good wind and disease resistance. Good large & tasty fruit. Short but very robust; good suckering; flower cream with orange tip; strong flesh. (038)
TYPE: DESSERT, COOKING
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 7-8' (032), 10-12' (038)
DISEASE: Has low Yellow Sigatoka susceptibility.
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KRU
DESCRIPTION:
[F]rom New Guinea, this wine colored plant gives fruit with green & red markings that narrows to a point on one end giving it an interesting and beautiful appearance. The fruit must be eaten very ripe to get full flavor. The Green Kru is the same flavored fruit with out the wine colored markings. (011) (010) (010) From New Guinea, this banana produces one of the most delicious tasting bananas around! Strong and sturdy ... its foliage and trunk have deep shades of red pigmentation, its fruit is also red/green cast. (061) This is an interesting cultivar from Papua New Guinea and reputedly has the best tasting fruit of all the bananas. [This variety] was collected in the 1960's by George Argent (RBG Edinburgh) from a village in the Madang District of Papua New Guinea and became part of the Musa collection at Lae on the northern cost of PNG. Al Will of Broward Community College in Florida visited the Lae collection and collected suckers which were taken back to Florida in 1970. [It] is a beautiful plant suffused with shades of red and the skin of the ripe fruit is bright reddish-purple. The plant was named after a species of reef fish that has similar colouration to the fruit. [It] is an ornamental plant and the fruit is strikingly attractive, edible and, apparently, of superb flavour. Not surprisingly the plant became widely distributed in the sub-tropical and tropical regions of the USA. The Lae collection in PNG has long since disappeared although the cultivar presumably can still be found in the villages of the Madang District. In his "Complete Book of Bananas, W. O. Lessard writes that 'Kru' belongs to the ABB group. George Argent thinks that it is an AA which is a very diverse genome group in Papua New Guinea. (011) One of the most delicious tasting bananas with reddish colored skin and orange flesh. Shades of red along fruit and pseudostem make it a must for collectors! Looks similar to the Jamaican Red but produces faster and may be more cold hardy. (030) Another beautiful plant with various red shading on psuedostem. Fruits are a colorfu red and green design that culminates at one end and is delicious. It is somewhat slender and quite cold sensitive. The pseudostem is very pink and the red fruit has angular edges and little curvature. The taste is delicious. (032) (040) This variety was imported from the jungles of New Guinea, where it has become extinct. The plant has a beautiful reddish stem and leaves. The red fruit is 5-6 inches long, wedge shaped, and orange-fleshed. Reported to be one of the best tasting bananas. The plant is moderately wind resistant and sensitive to drought and cold. (056) From New Guinea, this plant looks similar to the Jamaican Red but produces faster and might be little more cold hardy. Reddish colored skin and an orange flesh. (063) Pseudostem is redder when first exposed by trimming older leaves, and then fades over time with contact with sunlight. (910) Trunk has deep burgundy color when freshly trimmed, fading to green when exposed to sunlight. Looks very stunning when freshly trimmed. Leaves are erect. Poor cold tolerance. Largely defoliated winter of 2003/04 with temps in the mid-40's and was slow to releaf in Spring. (910)
TYPE:
GENETICS: AA (006) (011) (064) ABB (011)
HEIGHT: 10-12' (030) 10-13' (031), 12' (011) (010) (032) (010), 11-12' (910) 13' (910)
ORIGIN: New Guinea. (011)
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KUMAKUMA
DESCRIPTION:
The main varieties of banana grown for commercial purposes are Cavendish (musa), Misiluki (ladyfinger) and Plantain. Other varieties include Goldfinger (Cavendish with high resistance to black leaf), Ducassee, Kluai Namwa Khan and Kumakuma. (059)
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KUMUNAMBA
DESCRIPTION:
Sets 7-8 hands of bananas. It is a robust variety with erect leaves. The bananas have yellow/orange flesh. [A] good suckerer, and the flower is cream colored with an orange tip. It has a low susceptibility to yellow Sigatoka. (032) New AAB cultivar in the Iholena subgroup. This new dessert bananas produces good size fruits. (038)
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GENETICS: AAB (038)
HEIGHT: 8-12' (038), 10-12 (032)
DISEAS: Has low Yellow Sigatoka susceptibility.
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KUNNAN
DESCRIPTION:
[A] very common variety grown in Kerala [India]. The fruits are used as Dessert and for making powder for infants as supplementary food. Each bunch of fruit has 7-9 hands weighing 11-17 lbs. (050)
TYPE: DESSERT
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LACATAN
Pisang Masak Hijau (028) , Monte Cristo (028) , Giant Fig (028) , Hamakua (009), Bungulan (009)
DESCRIPTION:
Both the Jamaican [Lacatan] and cousin Philippine Lakatan are one of the Cavendish sub-group and produce a similar fruit in shape, texture and flavor. Only the height of the plants differ slightly; the Philippine has more red in the leaf margins and is a little taller. Both produce good sized bunches of fruit that has delicious flavor. (001) (010) One of the tallest of the Cavendish cultivars. It is a rapid growing and attractive plant which produces large bunches of excellent quality fruit. Needs protection from high winds especially when bearing a bunch.(007)A common producer of export fruit from Jamaica. High-quality, semi-hardy, requires propping of stems while fruiting. (009) Jamaican Lacatan was formerly the 'Chiquita' banana. It has great tasting fruit. The stem is fairly thin and needs to be propped up to support the fruit. Excellent quality fruit. (056) In general, the Cavendish group is resistant to Panama disease, but is susceptible to Sigatoka. The characteristic that distinguishes the best known clones is the height of the pseudostem. The tallest clone is 'Lacatan' followed by 'Robusta' and 'Giant Cavendish', 'Grand Nain', and 'Dwarf Cavendish'. (028) [F]ruit is round, seedless; has thick peel that has green when unripe, yellow-orange when ripe. [This may be a reference to Lakatan since it is about the Philippines.] (067) Simmonds declares [the Pisang Masak Hijau] cultivar is not the true 'Lacatan' of the Philippines. He suggested that 'Pisang masak hijau' may have been the primary source of all the members of the Cavendish group. (076)
TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS: AA (025), AAA (025) (028)
HEIGHT: 5-9' (067), 8-10 (009),12' (011), 15' (056)
DISEASE: Panama Resistant(?)
HIGHLIGHTS: Former Chiquita banana, Tallest of Cavendish Group.
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LADY FINGER GROUP
DESCRIPTION:
Lady Finger type bananas are short, sweet, and fat. They make an excellent dessert banana:
APPLE - A favorite dessert banana. Fruits are 4-6 inches long, plump, and firm. When fully ripe, the fruit has a very good sweet sub-acid apple flavor. However, ripening may occur several days even after yellow color change in skin. Yield is not very high, and plant is very susceptible to Panama disease. 10-12' (056)
BRAZILIAN - A very tall banana, quickly growing. It is wind tolerant and has very good quality fruits that are creamy and one of the sweetest bananas. Fruit can be allowed to ripen on or off the plant. Excellent Dessert banana. 18-20' (056)
FHIA-18 - A hardy, semi-dwarf, apple-flavored dessert banana resistant to Panama disease and nematodes and tolerant to Black Sigatoka. As with the 'Apple' Banana, the fruit must be fully ripe before eating. FHIA-18 is being grown commercially in Cuba. It is still under evaluation at ECHO [Educational Concerns for Haiti Organization]. (Summer 2002) (056)
GOLDEN PILLOW - Has moderate wind tolerance. The fruit is short and fat with thin skin; it is nearly identical to its parent, the 'Apple' banana. However, Golden Pillow can be eaten before ripe without any acidity or apple flavor. The flesh is very sweet and is a favorite in SE Asia. It is also susceptible to disease. 10-12' (056)
HONEY or NIŅO - Produces one of the sweetest ladyfinger bananas. Fruit is 2 to 3 inches long, thin skinned and plump. Stock should be harvested green because bananas are prone to splitting. The plant has slender leaves of a bright, almost glowing green color. Niņo is drought sensitive and does not produce large heads of fruit. 10-12' (056)
MYSORE - A ladyfinger type of banana hailing from India. This red tinged plant ... bears quickly. The bunches of yellow fruit are tightly packed, thin-skinned and very sweet with a hint of strawberry flavor. It is fairly wind tolerant, vigorous, and productive. It is resistant to nematode and corm borer attack as well. 12-14' (056)
NIŅO or HONEY - Produces one of the sweetest ladyfinger bananas. Fruit is 2 to 3 inches long, thin skinned and plump. Stock should be harvested green because bananas are prone to splitting. The plant has slender leaves of a bright, almost glowing green color. Niņo is drought sensitive and does not produce large heads of fruit. 10-12' (056)
PRAYING HANDS - A unique cultivar from Indonesia. Each individual banana is fused together in a hand. Fruit is very sweet with a hint of vanilla. Fruit can ripen on the stock without splitting and individual bananas will easily pull apart from the fused mass when they are yellow with ripeness. This vigorous sturdy banana produces both fruit and suckers frequently. (056)
RAJA PURI - A sweet dessert banana with smooth and creamy flesh. It is a hardy variety resistant to disease, nematode and corm borer attack, and can survive a light frost with leaves intact. The plant is very wind resistant. Fruit size and production is medium, however stock will bear in less than one year. Rajapuri is one of the favorite bananas of India and an excellent choice for the dooryard enthusiast, however it is very susceptible to black Sigatoka. 6-8' (056)
THOUSAND FINGERS - Produces a long bunch with 1 in. fruits There may be up to 1000 fruits in a bunch. The flower bud keeps setting fruits as long as the plant can nourish it. 12' (056)
LAKATAN
DESCRIPTION:
Both the Philippine Lakatan and cousin Jamaican [Lacatan] are one of the Cavendish sub-group and produce a similar fruit in shape, texture and flavor. Only the height of the plants differ slightly; the Philippine [Lacatan] has more red in the leaf margi[n]s and is a little taller. Both produce good sized bunches of fruit that has delicious flavor. (001) (010) [A] tall plant ... which produces fruit of excellent quality. The bunches are medium size with 5 to 7-inch fruit. This is the most highly esteemed fruit in the Philippines. (007) (056) Another Cavendish relation. (063) Some splitting of peel. Sometime has what appears to be a mild case of Cigar-end Rot, that may just be a flower deformity. Very good flavor. Definite favorite. (910) [F]ruit is round, seedless; has thick peel that has green when unripe, yellow-orange when ripe; gestation period is 14 to 15 months. [Spelled Lacatan in the source about the Philippines.] (066) {EDIT} LakatanR (Phi); Pisang Barangan (Ind); Pisang Berangan (Mal) (141)
TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS: ABB (009)
HEIGHT: 7-9' (910), 14'+ (001) (010), 15-20' (007), 18' (056)
ORIGIN: Indonesia (063)
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LARGO
DESCRIPTION:
Starchy cooking bananas, or plantains, are also found in Hawaii. Largo, Maia maole, and Popoulu are various plantain groups. (024)
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GENETICS: ABB (028)
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LATERITA
DESCRIPTION:
Musa laterita is a small section Rhodochlamys banana from north-eastern India usually flowering at about [4-5']. The leaves are about [3'] long and [12"] wide and taper gradually to the slender petioles. The inflorescence is quite erect with yellow-tipped brick-red bracts, similar in colour to the tropical soil laterite that gives the species its name. The flowers are bright yellow on opening and rather conspicuous. The first flowers to open are functionally female and they must be pollinated and fertilised before fruits will develop. Self fertilisation is prevented by the male flowers developing on the inflorescence after the females flowers are no longer receptive. Mature fruit ripens yellow but is more or less inedible due the presence of many small, hard, black seeds. Musa laterita suckers freely but the suckers are borne at the ends of long rhizomes. So instead of the typical clumped appearance of most bananas, M. laterita has a rather open habit and in a greenhouse bed or garden in the tropics will "travel" from its planting place. Nonetheless, it is quite amenable to pot culture where its long rhizomes will not be apparent until the plant is re-potted. Musa laterita is suitable only for greenhouse or conservatory culture in the UK, where it is easily flowered in a [5 gallon] pot, but can be stood outside in filtered sunlight in the summer. Musa laterita is sometimes sold under the incorrect names Musa ornata 'Bronze' or 'Red Salmon'. (064) The correct name for this cultivar is Musa laterita. Many of the plants grown in the trade as cultivars of Musa ornata are of hybrid origin but 'Red Salmon' is actually a true species. Musa laterita is a small banana from the north east of India and Burma and belongs to the Musa section Rhodochlamys. The name derives from the colour of the bracts which is rather like the brick-red tropical soil called laterite. It is a greenhouse or conservatory plant under UK conditions. The vegetative plant suckers freely and, unlike most Musa, the suckers are borne at the end of long rhizomes. So instead of the typical clumped appearance of most bananas, Musa laterita has a rather open habit. In a greenhouse bed or in a garden in the tropics Musa laterita is a rather unruly plant that "travels" from its planting place. Fortunately the plant is quite amenable to pot culture where the long rhizomes will not be apparent until the plant is re-potted. The leaf blades are a bright green with a reddish midrib and taper very gradually into the leaf stalk or petiole. The plant often flowers at around [3-5'] tall. The inflorescence is upright and has brick-red bracts subtending yellow female flowers borne at the ends of little green bananas. The fruits become yellowish when ripe but are not edible, the flesh being insipid and full of small black seeds. (011)
TYPE: ORNAMENTAL
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 3-5' (011)
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LATERITA (Royal Purple)
DESCRIPTION:
ORNAMENTAL
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LATUNDAN
DESCRIPTION:
[F]ruit is round; has a thin peel that is green when unripe, yellow when ripe; flesh is white when ripe. (067) [F]ruit is round; has thin peel that is green when unripe, yellow when ripe; flesh is white when ripe; gestation period is 12 months. (066) The Philippines has different varieties of banana - from the cooking variety named Saba, to small sweet Latundan, to the bigger exportable Bongolan, to red-skinned Morado, to full of seeds Espanola, to small, finger-like Senoritas. (020) {EDIT} LatundanR (Phi); Pisang Rastali (Mal); Pisang Rajah Sereh (Ind); Htaw-bat (Mya)
Radja (Phi); Pisang Raja (Ind, Mal) (141)
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HEIGHT: 6-10' (009) (066)
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LELE
DESCRIPTION:
{EDIT} Another wild variety is the tall lele, which means "to fly, leap, bounce, jump, sail through the air." It was almost always planted near altars and offered to the gods for love magic. The reason for its name is that the spirit of the banana was believed to fly up to the gods. (143)
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LIIANO GIGANTE
DESCRIPTION:
Commercial banana in large bunches of 50+ lbs. Fair tolerance to cold. (052)
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HEIGHT: 11' (052)
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LUJUGIRA
Mutika (130)
DESCRIPTION:
Fusarium wilt is a serious problem on many banana cultivars. The East African Highland subgroup (AAA 'Mutika/Lujugira') [has] been reported as susceptible in some environments. (130)
TYPE:
GENETICS: AAA (130)
HEIGHT:
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