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"we be bananas" in San Diego

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RAJA

DESCRIPTION:
Use as fried banana (pisang goreng) or eaten fresh. Each bunch has 6 - 9 hands and weighed [22-33 lbs.] Every hand has 12 - 16 fingers. It has a large size fingers, [6"] in length and [1-1/4 to 1-3/4"] in thickness. Fruit skin is very thick, smooth and yellow in colour when ripen. It has creamy orange, coarse textured and sweet flesh. (139)

TYPE:
GENETICS: AAB (139)
HEIGHT:
DISEASE:
HIGHLIGHTS:

RAJA PURI

DESCRIPTION:
A very popular sturdy plant originating in India and becoming a favorite around the world. Due to the rapid growth and delicious taste of these 3/4 size fruit as well as cool tolerance they have won the hearts (and taste buds) of thousands. (001) (010) (014) This tasty banana is very cold hardy, and the leaves will not turn yellow even with a light frosting. The leaves sometimes grow three feet wide, and the plant will grow and produce even in the poorest of soils. It is totally green with no red markings whatsoever. The plant is highly wind resistant and will not blow over, even in violent storms. Native to India and Pakistan. (003) An outstanding variety which can handle the wind and cold. It quickly produces a medium bunch of sweet, high quality fruit. (005) A vigorous dessert variety from India which withstands wind, cold, adverse conditions, and provides small to medium bunches of sweet, fine flavored fruit. For both its adaptability and the quality of the fruit, this is an outstanding variety. (007) Semi-hardy, producing short, good-quality fruits. Indian Group (009) A tough and cold hardy plant from India that produces medium size sweet bananas (063) This is an Indian cultivar said by some to be India's favourite banana but this is something of an exaggeration, a bit like saying the UK's favourite cherry is the Mazzard. I have yet to find anyone in India who has heard of it. Nevertheless, Rajapuri is a semi-dwarf plant otherwise similar to a rather rare Indian cultivar called Nendra Padaththi. It was once thought that 'Rajapuri' derived by mutation from Nendra Padaththi but this now seems not to be the case. It is possible that Rajapuri itself is simply very restricted in its occurrence in India. Despite the fact that it seems to originate in south India its main claim to fame is its cold tolerance. [O]ne of the most cold tolerant bananas bearing edible fruit. If it is possible to fruit a banana outdoors in the UK, and they are not likely to be as flavoursome as those from the supermarket, it is likely that it will be 'Rajapuri' or 'Orinoco'. In the USA, mature leaves of Rajapuri have been reported to be hardy to 32 degF) with wind although emerging leaves are damaged by wind and temperatures lower than about [39 degF}. (011) One of India's favorites! [R]elatively cold hardy and wind resistant. Very sweet med. sized fruit. Easy to grow and great tasting!! First choice for landscaping (030) Popular for tropical landscaping, this is one of India's favorite tasting variety. Its yellow fruit is medium sized and very sweet. Wind resistant due to its strong construction, this somewhat cold hardy variety. (031) This plant that originated from India is a first choice for landscaping. The plant is totally green, has a very thick stem and stands up very well to wind. The leaves are wider than those of most bananas growing up to 3 feet wide. It is the best plant to grow in marginal areas or where a grower does not intend to put much care into the cultivation of bananas. The heads of fruit are of moderate size with medium sized fruit that are very sweet. (032) [O]ne of the most durable and easy to grow bananas. This stout trunked plant grows to 9 feet and is very wind resistant. The 6 inch fruit is very sweet and is a favorite in India. (039) A vigorous dessert variety from India which withstands wind, cold, adverse conditions, and provides small-to-medium bunches of sweet fine flavored fruit. For both its adaptability and the quality of the fruit, this is an outstanding variety. (047) Small fruit with sweet, tasty flesh in small bunches. Tolerates cold and wind well (052) [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. (056) Noted to be more wind resistant and relatively cold hardy. This banana is from India and produces medium-sized sweet fruit. (030) Of Indian origin, it can be used fresh or green. Very heat tolerant, and reportedly one of the most cold tolerant as well, which makes it a prime candidate for trial growing. A small grower It has been grown as an ornamental almost as far north as M. basjoo, though it never fruits there due to death of the flower spike, and other fruiting varieties may be similarly vegetatively hardy. However, there are reports of choking (999) under conditions where Orinoco finished its fruiting cycle, and even reports of it choking under warm Florida conditions. It may not like temperature fluctuation. There is too little experience with cold winter climate growing to definitively answer this, only time and experimentation will tell. There are certainly plenty who consider it cold hardy. If nothing else it will make a great hardy ornamental foliage plant. Fruit tend to be short and very sweet. It seems to have a very long production cycle. (079) Produces mellow, sweet fruit bananas. There is some wine color in the leaves and the trunk. (105) Supposed to be one of the hardiest. A lot like Dwarf Cayendish and difficult to tell them apart. -Good bananas, but not overly vigorous. (097) Raja Puri. From India, a hardy, pink-fleshed apple banana. (096) Sometimes has some "toughness running down the very center of the banana. (910)

TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS: AAB (006) (009) (064) (079)
HEIGHT: 6-7' (910), 6-8' (009) (030) (030), 6-9' (031), 8-10' (005) (007) (032) (038) (047) (056)
ORIGIN: India and Pakistan. (011) (010) (063)
DISEASE: Sigatoka scuceptible, Nematode resistant, Corm borer resistant.
HIGHLIGHTS: Chokes easily. Cold Tolerant.

RASTHALI
RASTALI

Rastari (?) (060)

DESCRIPTION:
Fusarium wilt is a serious problem on many banana cultivars, [including] Latundan (Philippines), Maçă (Brazil), Pisang Rastali (Malaysia), Rasthali (India) ... belong to the AAB 'Silk' subgroup. (130) The bunches weigh about 22 lbs each. The fruit is half the size of the embun, yellow rough skin with black to brown dots on the surface of the skin. The flesh is distinctive and slightly acidic in taste. It has poor keeping quality. (060) (140) Use for fresh. Each bunch has 5 - 9 hands and weighed 10 - 15 kg. Every hand has 12 - 16 fingers. It has medium size fingers ranges from 10 - 15 cm in length and 3 - 4 cm in thickness. Fruit skin is very thin and yellow in colour when ripen. It has white, pleasant aroma and sourish sweet flesh. (139) {EDIT} Note spelling Rastali/Rasthali: The dessert types are emas, berangan, rastali, udang and a new clone named cavendish (novaria) whereas the hardy fruits used in cooking and food processing are abu nipah, abu kapur, buloh, tanduk, awak, masam and nangka. (142)

TYPE: DSSERT
GENETICS: AAB (139)
HEIGHT: 12' (060)
HIGHLIGHTS:

RED
See also TALL RED

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RED DACCA
Pisang raja udang (025), Red (025)

DESCRIPTION:
Red Dacca is interesting because the tall [plant bears] average sized bunches of large, plump bananas that are washed purply pink when ripe. Planting to harvest is about 18 months for this cultivar under subtropical conditions. It is suceptible to Panama disease. Not recommended. (058)

TYPE:
GENETICS: AAA (025)
HEIGHT: 18' (058)
DISEASE: Panama susceptible.
HIGHLIGHTS:

RED GREEN
DESCRIPTION:

TYPE:
GENETICS:
HEIGHT:

RED GROUP
Cuban Red, Jamaican Red, Colorado, Indio, Macaboo (001), Red Spanish, Lal Kela (076), Klue Nak (025)

DESCRIPTION:
[T]his very sweet lady finger fruit is most beautiful. It turns "sunset" colors when ripening from dark burgundy to orange, yellow-green and muted colors in between. The full bodied flavor and distinctive sweetness makes it worth the wait of 18-28 months to give fruit. The tall red [has] a dark maroon pseudostem. (001) 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. Red bananas are found in both Cavendish groups. [M]ay have originated in India, where it is frequently grown, and it has been introduced into all banana growing regions. The plant is large, takes 18 months from planting to harvest. It is highly resistant to disease. The pseudostem, petiole, midrib and fruit peel are all purplish red, but the latter turns to orange yellow when the fruit is fully ripe. The bunch is compact, may contain over 100 fruits of medium size, with thick peel, and flesh of strong flavor. In the mutant called 'Green Red', the plant is variegated green and red with pseudostem to 18 in. thick at the base. The bunch bears 4 to 7 hands, the fruits are thick, 5 to 7 in long. The purplish-red peel changes to orange-yellow and the flesh is firm, cream-colored and of good quality. (076) Jamaican Red = Celat (AAB Group) (025)

TYPE:
GENETICS: AAA (009) (028)
HEIGHT: 10-25' (009),14-16' (001)
HIGHLIGHTS:

RED IHOLENE
Red Iholena, Hawaiian Red

DESCRIPTION:
This versatile variety is not only beautiful, with the underside of the leaves being a soft burgundy color, but also used for eating out of hand, dehydrating and cooking. The others in the Hilahila sub group of Polynesian cooking bananas include the WHITE IHOLENA & HA'A. The Ha'a is the shortest of the group and produces fruit that are yellowish from the onset, making it difficult to determine when to harvest. (Do not use color as the only indicator to pick your fruit). The White is devoid of the burgundy coloration but produces a similar fruit. All are excellent for a multitude of uses. (001) (004) (010) One of the most beautiful banana plants due to its attractive coloring of red and purple on the trunk and under sides of the leaves. The pink fleshed bananas are delicious fresh or cooked and is our favorite Hawaiian variety. (005) One of the most beautiful banana plants due to its vigorous appearance and attractive coloring with red and ivory in the trunk and reddish purple undersides on leaves. The fruit itself is delicious and has pink flesh. A favorite Hawaiian variety eaten fresh or cooked. Very rapid growing. (007) A stunning mutation ... with a combination of pinks and purples in the psuedostems and leaves otherwise identical [to Whi8te Iholele]. (009) This is a red mutant of the Hawaiian cultivar 'Iholena'. The fruit of this banana is dual purpose and can be eaten uncooked as a dessert fruit or cooked as a vegetable. This is one of those cultivars that gives the lie to the suggestion that there is a real distinction between dessert "bananas" and cooking "plantains". (011) One of the most beautiful banana plants with the underside of the leaves being a soft burgundy color and its psedostem of a bright reddish-pink coloring. Can be eaten out of hand, dehydrating or cooked. (031) One of the most ornamental of all banana plants, and this one bears fine-tasting fruit, too. This Hawaiian cultivar has leaves that are burgundy colored on their lower surface to match the red-pink pseudostem. Being of a modest height, it is suited to both the landscape and greenhouse where it makes a beautiful specimen. The unripe fruit skin starts out pale yellow and should not be picked until it is very ripe. This is a close relative of White Iholene and Ha'a, which is the dwarf form of the Iholene group. Very distinctive! (032) Red and ivory coloring in the trunk and reddish purple undersides on the leaves makes this a very beautiful plant. The fruit is delicious and has a pink flesh. Hawaiian variety. (063) One of the most beautiful banana plants. Fruit has a delicious pink flesh. (096) [The] Iholenes are Polynesian banana-plantain crosses that ripen faster than any other cultivar. The stalk and leaf undersides of Red Ilohene are a beautiful burgundy color. The fruit emerges yellow and in 7 weeks is salmon colored and ready for harvest. The flesh is orange, fairly dry, and excellent for eating fresh or use in cooking. (056) {EDIT} One variety of Hawaiian banana was the hapai (pregnant) banana. The bananas mature two-thirds of the way up and inside the banana trunk. Ripeness is detected by swarming fruit flies or ants. One variety, the iholena bears bronzy leaf undersides and the fruit, which has apricot-colored flesh is best when cooked. It was one of the varieties women were allowed to eat. (143)

TYPE: FRESH, COOKING
GENETICS: AAA (Iholena group) (006) AAA (009)
HEIGHT: 5-7' (038),10-12' (001) (004) (010) (031) (032), 14-16' (053), 25' (007)TARGET="NEW">(143) HIGHLIGHTS:

RED JEWEL

DESCRIPTION:{edit}This rapid grower is great in containers, where it will quickly grow to a height of about 4 to 5 feet. (In the ground, it can reach 10 feet.) Its fruit are thin-skinned and short, but exquisitely sweet. (043)

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RED PLANTAIN
Wine plantain, Platano colorado (Sp.)

DESCRIPTION:

TYPE: PLANTAIN
GENETICS: AAB (025)
HEIGHT:
HIGHLIGHTS:

RED ROWE

DESCRIPTION:
[A]n improved sumatrana Zebrina (Rojo). (032)

TYPE: ORNAMENTAL
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 5-7' (032)
HIGHLIGHTS:

RHINO HORN
See AFRICAN RHINO HORN

ROBUSTA
See VALERY

ROJO
See ZEBRINA

ROSE

DESCRIPTION:
The slender pseudostem displays a soft reddish color and grows rapidly. The small fruit are very sweet and delicate. Resistant to fusarium wilt. (001) (002) (010) (030) Very fast growing. Pups profusely. Some reddish color in Pseudostem. Doesn't seem to be nearly as cold sensitive as redder varieties (such as Dwarf Jamaican Red and Kru). Leaves are very erect. Sensitvie to pup removal: adjacent plants will some some brown in their leaves for a while. Fruits are very small, but very thin-skinned and quite aromatic and surprisngly, very tasty. Profuse pupping make this a possibility for use as a screening plant. Roots are very tough. (910)

TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS: AA (006) (028)
HEIGHT: 6-8' (001) (002) (010) (030) (910)
DISEASE: Fusarium resistant.
HIGHLIGHTS: Excellent landscape/ornamental quality.

SABA
Fehi (009), Pisang kepok (025), Pisang kepok, Pisang Abu, Nipak (038), Papaya banana, Pawpaw banana, Philippines cooking banana, Bali cooking banana (025), Cardaba (Tagalog), Pisang Nepah (025)

DESCRIPTION:
The "sequoia" of the banana plants with huge pseudostem (range 12-24" diameter) and heights ranging from 16-20 ft. here, however clients have reported even greater heights in other areas of the country. The wonderful tasting cooking banana makes the best tostones we have ever eaten. A sturdy plant and somewhat cool tolerant. (001) (004) (010) (013a) A tall plant with a large pseudostem that produces an excellent cooking banana and also tolerates cool growing conditions as well. (063) This giant of the banana kingdom can have a trunk that is 24 inches in diameter. The plant is totally green with no red coloring anywhere. The fruit is a plantain and is usually eaten after cooking. The banana is three inches long and one inch wide. This tree is native to the Philippine Islands. This banana is totally dominant in every respect over all other banana trees cultivars. (003) [P]ossibly too tender for this climate. (009) This one is the GIANT of all bananas, sometimes called the "sequoia" of the bananas since it has a huge pseudostem (12-24" diameter). The fruit lends itself nicely to cooking and makes great "tostones". A sturdy plant and somewhat cool tolerant. (010) Saba is the chief source of banana chips and catsup. (019) This banana comes to us from the Philippines. There it is commonly cooked and eaten as a staple. The plant is very large and sturdy. [V]ery tolerant to cold and resistant to wind. The trunk can be as thick as 18 inches. It is of dark green color and can be used for shade as well as fruit. (032) 'Maricongo', 'Common Dwarf', 'Pelipita', 'Saba' are the leading cultivars. In Florida, 'Macho' is grown as a dooryard cultivar. (098) Of the 57 banana cultivars, the following are the most common in the Philippines: Saba ... [F]ruit is angular; has thick peel that is green when unripe, yellow when ripe; flesh is white when ripe; gestation period is 15 to 16 months. (067) 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. The saba for example is used as a main ingredient for pochero, a hearty meat stew, and also for sweets like turon, minatamis na saging, ginataan, binayo and others. (020) {EDIT} Saba or CardabaR (Phi); Kluai Hin (Tha); Pisang Nepah (Mal) (141) {EDIT} Seventeen Musa cultivars that were rated highly by the small-scale farmers in Kenya were examined for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) genetic markers using PCR with ten 10-mer primers. The aim of the study was to sort out synonyms and enable in vitro production of true-to-type plants. The study included five reference cultivars of genomic groups AA, AB, AAA, AAB, and ABB to uncover the genomic groups prevalent among the Kenyan cultivars. The ten primers generated 69 genetic markers that were used for estimation of genomic groups and for cultivar identification. Pairwise RAPDistance analysis of the data and subsequent generation of a dendrogram using the "Neighbour Joining Tree" program grouped the cultivars into two major clusters depending on their genomic similarities. One cluster comprised the Kenya highland bananas that grouped with the AAA reference cultivar Poyo, while the other cluster contained the coastal lowland cultivars that grouped with the ABB AAB and AB reference cultivars Saba, Kelong Mekindu, Safet Velchi, respectively. The dissimilarity analysis between the samples showed no duplication among the banana accessions. Each cultivar was genotypically different although some were closely related. (144)

TYPE: COOKING, Plantian
GENETICS: BBB (006) (009), ABB (009) (028), BBB or ABB (064)
HEIGHT: 16' (910), 16-20' (001) (004) (010), 17-21' (032) (038), 20' (066), 25' (003)
ORIGIN: Philippines. (009) (032)
HIGHLIGHTS: Height. Good for Tostones.

SAFET VELCHI
Ney Poovan, Safed Velchi (?)

DESCRIPTION:
[India] Cultivated varieties are broadly divided into two groups : table and culinary. Among the [table bananas] are 'Poovan' (also known as 'Karpura Chakkarekeli'), 'Mortaman', 'Champa', 'Amrit Sagar', 'Basrai', Safed Velchi', Lal Velchi', 'Rajeli', 'Champa' and 'Mortaman', 'Rastali', 'Sirumalai', 'Chakkarekeli', 'Ney Poovan', 'Kadali', and 'Pacha Nadan'. 'Basrai', which is known under different names, viz. 'Mauritius', 'Vamankeli', 'Cavendish', 'Governor', 'Harichal', is also grown in central and southern India. Recently, the 'Robusta' variety is gaining popularity in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The 'Virupakshi' variety (Hill banana) is the most predominant variety in the Palni Hills of Tamil Nadu. (074) {EDIT} Seventeen Musa cultivars that were rated highly by the small-scale farmers in Kenya were examined for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) genetic markers using PCR with ten 10-mer primers. The aim of the study was to sort out synonyms and enable in vitro production of true-to-type plants. The study included five reference cultivars of genomic groups AA, AB, AAA, AAB, and ABB to uncover the genomic groups prevalent among the Kenyan cultivars. The ten primers generated 69 genetic markers that were used for estimation of genomic groups and for cultivar identification. Pairwise RAPDistance analysis of the data and subsequent generation of a dendrogram using the "Neighbour Joining Tree" program grouped the cultivars into two major clusters depending on their genomic similarities. One cluster comprised the Kenya highland bananas that grouped with the AAA reference cultivar Poyo, while the other cluster contained the coastal lowland cultivars that grouped with the ABB AAB and AB reference cultivars Saba, Kelong Mekindu, Safet Velchi, respectively. The dissimilarity analysis between the samples showed no duplication among the banana accessions. Each cultivar was genotypically different although some were closely related. (144)

TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: AB (006) (064) (025)
HIGHLIGHTS:

SAMOAN Varieties

DESCRIPTION:
The main varieties of banana grown [in Samoa] for commercial purposes are Cavendish, Misiluki and Plantain. Other varieties include Goldfinger, Ducassee, Kluai Namwa Khan and Kumakuma. (059)

SAN JOSE

DESCRIPTION:
Like [Argenteno] and Del Monte, introduced to San Diego directly from a plantation in Central America. (009) [Variety] taken from outside the Costa Rican capital. To date it has performed very well [California] and producing large bunches of high-quality fruit. It has an average resistance to cold. (009) Imported by Peggy Winters and Jim Neitzel (912)

TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 6-8' (009), 8-10' (912). 13' (910),
HIGHLIGHTS:

SARTTRA

DESCRIPTION:
(pronounced sot-tra) [F]rom SE Asia, this thin skinned sweet, aromatic, pointed fruit reaching about 5" in length has nice pink coloration in pseudo stem. (036)

TYPE:
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 10-12' (036)
HIGHLIGHTS:

SENORITA

DESCRIPTION:
Other varieties grown in the [Philippines] include the Morado, Pitogo, Los Banos, Senorita, Tindok, Gloria, Granda, and Tumok. (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)

TYPE:
GENETICS:
HEIGHT:

1780

DESCRIPTION:
Origin can be traced back to Haiti on the island of Hispaniola. In 1783 Mr. Claude Trem brought the banana to his plantation near New Orelans. (032) (038)

TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 10-12' (032) (038)
ORIGIN: Haiti. (032)
HIGHLIGHTS: Possibly the oldest variety in the US.

SEYCHELLES PLANTAIN
SEE Ele Ele

DESCRIPTION:
Beautiful purplish-black trunked plant. Bears medium bunches of plump, blue nosed cooking bananas of good quality. (007) Has the distinction of being larger in girth than any banana. Fruit of this clone is best eaten cooked. 15-20'. Average hardiness, attractive brown to black coloration. (009)

TYPE: COOKING
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 15-20' (009), 16-18' (007)
HIGHLIGHTS:

SH Series

DESCRIPTION:
SH = Selected Hybrid and refers to the numbered clones from the Honduras breeding program [FHIA].

SH-3008

DESCRIPTION:
Bred in the Honduras Research Station. It has beautiful large leaves with maroon under side and splotched maroon and green on the top side of the leaves. Resembles the Zebrina/Sumatrana except larger and fuller. (001) (010)

TYPE:
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 6' (001) (010)
ORIGIN: FHIA (Fundación Hondureńa de Investigacion Agrícola) Honduras.
HIGHLIGHTS:

SH-3393

DESCRIPTION:
Crossed with Williams to produce FHIA-2 MonaLisa. (038)

TYPE:
GENETICS:
HEIGHT:
HIGHLIGHTS:

SH-3436

DESCRIPTION:

TYPE:
GENETICS:
HEIGHT:
ORIGIN: FHIA (Fundación Hondureńa de Investigacion Agrícola) Honduras
DISEASE: Black sigatoka resistant (126)
HIGHLIGHTS:

SH-3640

DESCRIPTION:
A dessert type, producing a sweet, full sized fruit. Grows rapidly, fruits early. This one has real potential. (001) (010) [A] selection from the FHIA (Fundación Hondureńa de Investigacion Agrícola) research station in Honduras. Resistant to nematodes, it was used for breeding purposes. Unfortunately, it is susceptible to black Sigatoka. They are sturdy, productive plants that produce an even higher quality fruit than Goldfinger. They are similar to Goldfinger in the robust growth habit and height. (126) Dwarf Prata x SH3393 (137) SH = Seleted Hybrid.

TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 10' (001) (010)
DISEASE: Nematode resistant (126), Black Sigatika susceptible. (126)
ORIGIN: FHIA (Fundación Hondureńa de Investigacion Agrícola) Honduras.
HIGHLIGHTS:

SIAM RUBY

DESCRIPTION:

TYPE:
GENETICS:
HEIGHT:

SIKKIMENSIS
Darjeeling (146)

DESCRIPTION:
[T]he same cultivar a hookerii. This is a fast growing, good suckering plant with a thin trunk that originated in North India, elevation 6000-7000 feet. More attractive than Basjoo, it is maroon with a slightly copper underside. [P]rone to rot when frozen back. (032) [A] new introduction that grows as a solitary plant with a massive pseudotrunk to 1-1/2' in diameter. Native to India from hot, lowland climes to 6000' elevations in the Himalayas of the northeast, it is being grown outdoors in England, Germany, and Switzerland(!). Some strains are estimated to be root hardy to zone 5-6. Our source lists it as having "more potential than any other cold tolerant Musa in cultivation at the moment." The robust new leaves emerge olive bronze, often with deep red reverses, and some of the plants exhibit conspicuous red banding on the upper leaf surfaces. The fruits are sweet and with few seeds, but hard. We feel this species will prove to be a great ornamental. Culture [same] as for M. basjoo. (079) New to cultivation. Tinged with red, and purple new leaves and leaf midribs. Should be hardy to cool conditions coming from Montane forest up to 6000 ft. in the Himalayas of NE India. The fruits have a sweetish pulp but are hard and contain a few large seeds. (063) Musa sikkimensis is the correct species name and belongs to the Musa section Musa (1). The name Musa hookeri or, worse, Musa hookerii is sometimes wrongly applied to this species. This is a beautiful, cold tolerant foliage plant from north-eastern India but just how cold tolerant is not yet known. Until Musa sikkimensis was introduced we had only one banana, Musa basjoo, that could be expected to perform reliably in UK gardens. Musa basjoo is still a good plant but Musa sikkimensis is rather more attractive. Grown from seed the plant is rather variable in colouration but good forms of the species have leaves that are glossy olive-green on the upper surface and with a red midribs. The lower leaf surface is flushed with reddish-purple. Even better forms are splashed with red markings on the upper surface of the leaf somewhat resembling those of Musa acuminata zebrina. They are striking plants in the garden. At the moment, Musa sikkimensis is grown from seed and the colouration of plants available commercially is rather variable. But it won't be too long before the best coloured forms are micropropagated to give consistent quality. (147) A rare and little known large banana species, new to cultivation, that sports a massive pseudo-trunk to 14ft tall and 18in. in diam., tinged with red, and purple new leaves and leaf-midribs. A percentage of plants even exhibits beautifully dark red mottled leaves. The Darjeeling Banana is very hardy to cold (i.e. in the sense of Musa basjoo) coming, as it does, from montane forests up to 6000ft in the Himalayas of NE-India. First trials outdoors in the US, Britain, Germany and Switzerland have shown an excellent resistance to cold and frost. Like all bananas, it is extremely fast growing, given rich soil and an abundance of water. The fruits have a sweetish pulp but are hard and contain a few large seeds. An absolute novelty that shows great promise as an ornamental for the temperate as well as the cooler tropical garden. We think this plant that has more potential than any other cold tolerant Musa in cultivation at the moment. (146)

TYPE: ORNAMENTAL
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 12-18' (032), 14' (079)
ORGIN: India. (032) (074)
HIGHLIGHTS: Cold hardiness.

SILK
Silk Fig, Apple Manzana (Sp.) (025), Sugar (025), Pisang Rastali (025), Pisang Raja Sereh (025)

DESCRIPTION:
[T]he most popular dessert banana of the tropics. It is widely distributed around the tropics and subtropics but never grown on a large scale. The plant is only medium in vigor, very resistant to Sigatoka but prone to Panama disease. There are only 6 to 12 hands in the bunch, each with 16 to 18 fruits. The plump bananas are 4 to 6 in long, slightly curved; astringent when unripe but pleasantly subacid when fully ripe; and apple scented. If left on the bunch until fully developed, the thin skin splits lengthwise and breaks at the stem end causing the fruit to fall, but it is firm and keeps well on hand in the home. (076) Fusarium wilt is a serious problem on many banana cultivars grown by smallholders for local consumption. These include Latundan (Philippines), Maçă (Brazil), Pisang Rastali (Malaysia), Rasthali (India) which belong to the AAB ‘Silk’ subgroup; LadyFinger (Australia), Prata (Brazil), Virupakshi (India) which belong to the AAB ‘Pome’ subgroup and Chuoi Tay (Vietnam), Kayinja(East Africa), Kluai Namwa (Thailand) which belong to the ABB ‘Pisang Awak’ subgroup. Other locally important cultivars, such as those in the East African Highland subgroup (AAA ‘Muti-ka/Lujugira’) and Pisang Mas subgroup (AA ‘Sucrier’) have also been reported as susceptible in some environments. If the disease were to spread to the South Pacific, cultivars in the popular Pacific cooking banana subgroup (AAB ‘Maia Maoli/Popoulou’) would also be vulnerable as representatives have shown susceptibility in field tests. In addition, widely grown clones in the ABB ‘Bluggoe’ and AAA ‘Gros Michel’ subgroups are also susceptible. (130)

TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS: AAB (006) (025) (130)
HEIGHT: 10-12' (076)
DISEASE: Sigatoka resistant, Panama susceptible.
HIGHLIGHTS:

SILK SUBGROUP (130)

DESCRIPTION:
Fusarium wilt is a serious problem on many banana cultivars, [including] Latundan (Philippines), Maçă (Brazil), Pisang Rastali (Malaysia), Rasthali (India) ... belong to the AAB 'Silk' subgroup. (048) Banana cultivars differ in their susceptibility to Yellow Sigatoka with the Cavendish group (AAA) and 'Pome' (AAB) bananas being highly susceptible. 'Sucrier' (AA), 'Bluggoe' (ABB), and 'Silk' (AAB) are of intermediate susceptibility, while 'Mysore' is only slightly susceptible. Fungicides are available for control. (028)

GENETICS: AAB (130)

SIMOI

DESCRIPTION:

TYPE:
GENETICS:
HEIGHT:
DISEASE: Black sigatoka resistant (126)
HIGHLIGHTS:

SMALL DATIL
DESCRIPTION:

TYPE:
GENETICS:
HEIGHT:

SUCRIER GROUP

DESCRIPTION:
Edible bananas are classified into several main groups and subgroups. Simmonds placed first the diploid M. acuminata group 'Sucrier' , represented in Malaya, Indonesia, the Philippines, southern India, East Africa, Burma, Thailand, the West Indies, Colombia and Brazil. The sheaths are dark-brown, the leaves yellowish and nearly free of wax. The bunches are small and the fruits small, thin-skinned and sweet. Cultivars of this group are more important in New Guinea than elsewhere. Here belongs one of the smallest of the well-known bananas, the 'Lady Finger', also known as 'Date' or 'Fig', and, in Spanish, as 'Dedo de Dama', 'Datil', 'Nino', Bocadillo', 'Manices', 'Guineo Blanco', or 'Cambur Titiaro'. The plant has a slender trunk but a heavy root system that fortifies the plant against strong winds. The outer sheaths have streaks or patches of reddish brown. The bunch consists of 10 to 14 hands each of 12 to 20 fingers. The fruit is 4 to 5 in long, with thin, light-yellow skin and sweet flesh. This cultivar is resistant to Panama disease and the black weevil but subject to Sigatoka (leaf spot). It is common in Latin America and commercial in Queensland and New South Wales. (076) 'Lady finger' - from the 'Sucrier' group, produces small (4-5 inch), very sweet fruits with thin skin. Common in Latin America and Australia. (098) Fusarium wilt is a serious problem on many banana cultivars. The Pisang Mas subgroup (AA 'Sucrier') [has] been reported as susceptible in some environments. (130) Banana cultivars differ in their susceptibility to Yellow Sigatoka with the Cavendish group (AAA) and 'Pome' (AAB) bananas being highly susceptible. 'Sucrier' (AA), 'Bluggoe' (ABB), and 'Silk' (AAB) are of intermediate susceptibility, while 'Mysore' is only slightly susceptible. Fungicides are available for control. (028)

TYPE:
GENETICS: AA (098)
HEIGHT:
HIGHLIGHTS:

SUMATRANA x GRAN NIAN
"Cross", X, Gran Nain X Sumatrana (032), "X" (032)

DESCRIPTION:
This is a very unusual hybrid with the leaf coloring of the sumatrana and the growth habit of the Gran Nain. The plant is short and stout, with wide maroon variegated leaves that make it a prized landscape specimen. Has small seedless fruit. (032) Musa acuminata subsp. sumatrana x 'Grand Nair'. This is a typographical error in the Plant Finder for Musa acuminata subsp. sumatrana x 'Grand Nain'. This plant is a hybrid between a subspecies of Musa acuminata (female parent) and a commercial banana cultivar 'Grand Nain' (male parent). The cross was made by W. O. Lessard a pioneer banana nurseryman in Florida who wrote a very influential but sometimes inaccurate book on bananas. The result of his cross was a single fruit containing seed. Lessard's own seed did not germinate but from the seed he gave to a friend a single plant was raised. This proved to be a richly coloured dwarf plant growing to no more than five feet before fruiting. The fruit of this hybrid would only be produced under glass in the UK but is not considered to be edible. Lessard comments "the fruit was seedless but not very pleasing to the taste. It was a definite improvement over the taste of the M. Sumatrana (sic) but not good enough to be considered tasty. [Nevertheless] the plant is very handsome with the juvenile leaves generously marked with splashes of red that fade as the leaves mature. The bottom of the leaf is maroon." Lessard also mentions that "thought is being given to a name" for the plant but this has not yet been done. (011)[A]s we call it the "X" is a cross between the popular dessert banana and the ornamental red leaf plant. The fruit is very small making it more of an ornamental than eating variety, however the leaves are much wider than its progenitor creating a gorgeous landscape addition. (011) (010)

TYPE: DESSERT (?), ORNAMENTAL
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 5' (011), 7-10' (032)
HIGHLIGHTS: Very colorful foliage.

SUPER DWARF CAVENDISH
Super Dwarf

DESCRIPTION:
A real midget banana with wide leaves and green coloration. It produces a small bunch of medium - large fruit. Great for containerized growing or small spots in the yard or garden. (001) (010) We have not had this fruit yet but we are told that it produces a small sweet fruit. This plant would make a great border or ground cover (063) Has a very compact and symmetrical appearance. Produces a very tasty fruit. As the picture shows, this plant is excellent as a ground cover. (123) I have a super dwarf cavendish growing indoors for 3 years. I like it for its foliage, so I'm not trying to get it to fruit. Once again, the newest leaves are "stuck" (about the third time this has happened) -- they don't push out all the way and they're getting all "backed up" where they come out. (918) I have three SDC's doing the same, to me it is a signal of either it is going to choke or to bloom. I've seen a lot of SDC pics with their leaves seem to be stuck and piled up very close to each other. (906) 'NOVAK' - Forget all your past experiences with banana plants because this one is distinctively improved! The unique super dwarf qualities of this banana plant allow for practical in-home or patio enjoyment. Very symmetrical and compact appearance ... growing to no more than 3-4 feet tall. [H]as a heavy stem caliper with very compact nodes and shorter petioles (juvenile foliage may have reddish patches of color). As a result of these characteristics, [it has] a very symmetrical and compact appearance. Recommended for 6, 8, 10 inch containers. Because of its size, this makes a very versatile banana. [P]roduces very tasty fruit! Can be grown as a beautiful tropical foliage plant, but to get bananas the plant must be in full sun and grown for 24 months without a freeze. I would not expect bananas in zones lower than 7 without special protection. Can also be grown inside the home or on the porch or patio.(Ebay) [Super dwarf?] Forget about huge banana plants that need a lot of room. This unique super dwarf allows for growing inside the home, on the porch, or close confines of a patio. Has a very symmetrical and compact appearance. Can produce tasty fruit inside or out. Has been used as ground cover around base of palms which provide strong vertical elements. Easy to grow in containers down to 8" in diameter. This dwarf variety makes a great potted plant for any patio. It has an attractive mahogany colored trunk and will produce a small edible fruit even in a container. (014)

TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 2-3' (123), 2-4' (030) (013a), 3' (001) (010), 3-4' (038) (063)
HIGHLIGHTS: Very short plant.

SUPER DWARF CAVENDISH, VARIEGATED
Super Dwarf

DESCRIPTION:Same as Super Dwarf Cavendish, but with vafriegated leaves.

TYPE: DESSERT
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: est. 2-3'
HIGHLIGHTS: Very short plant.

SUPER PLANTAIN

DESCRIPTION:
This is a popular variety. The fruit is terrific and is a staple of Caribbean and Latin cuisine. (032)

TYPE: COOKING
GENETICS:
HEIGHT: 12' (032)

SWEETHEART
FHIA-3

DESCRIPTION:
The FHIA (Fundación Hondureńa de Investigacion Agrícola) is a federal organization that is owned by the Honduran government. It has been breeding bananas for forty years. Their first widely available cultivar, Musa hybrid FHIA-1 ('Goldfinger'), is already, having some impact and this new hybrid is sure to follow. FHIA-3 ('Sweetheart') was bred and selected for increased disease resistance and yield. Excellent flavor and good size make it attractive to the home gardener. (032) A very new, improved fresh or cooking type, capable of being grown cooler and winter cold tolerant, disease resistant, semi dwarf, stocky. Very similar to 'Goldfinger.' It is very tolerant of sub-standard growing conditions, especially poor quality soils. The fruit ripen very quickly after picking so they should be left on the stalk until almost needed. Just harvest one hand at a time. It has great flavor, with a good sweet/acid ratio, very smooth texture, and resistance to browning after peeling. It also has a relatively fast production cycle, is a heavy producer, and a fast ripener. This variety seems to be a classic "home" variety, a poor commercial shipper of wide climactic adaptability and great fresh quality. It has a reputation for drought and wind resistance. Clusters are usually 30-60 lbs. (079) A new banana cultivar known as FHIA-3 was tested in Uganda in comparison with established local cultivars. FHIA-3 had excellent yield characteristics and resistance to black sigatoka disease. This work describes research into the suitability of FHIA-3 for processing into matooke, a starchy food prepared from cooking bananas. FHIA-3 was compared with three indigenous matooke banana cultivars known as Nakabululu, Mukazi-alanda and Nakyetengu. They were evaluated by a panel of trained judges for softness, lumpiness, stickiness, sweetness, astringency, aroma, yellow color intensity, color uniformity, and by another panel of untrained consumers on overall acceptability alone. Their physical attributes such as bunch compactness and fruit sheen which are known to be important in the market were also subjectively evaluated. Further evaluation was done using objective methods on soluble solids, color and texture. FHIA 3 was completely unacceptable to the consumers as a matooke cultivar although it may be suitable for other forms of utilization. (091) [A] disease-resistant cultivar that doubles as both a dessert banana and a cooking banana. it is now grown commercially in Grenada and Cuba (where it is used primarily as a ripe dessert banana). The plants are hardy, semi-dwarf, sturdy and productive, resistant to black Sigatoka, Panama disease, and Moko disease and tolerant to nematodes. (126) FHIA-3 This strong hybrid looks like the traditional" moroca" variety that has been an integral part of the diet of many inhabitants of the Americas, Asia and Africa. FHIA-03 is highly resistant to both bacterial wilt known as marchitez bacteriana (Moko) and to the leaf spot disease known as Black Sigatoka. It's productive in poor soil and in other adverse conditions where other varieties do not grow well. It has very good qualities and may be consumed either ripe or green. This sturdy banana is capable of prospering under limited agricultural and ecological conditions. It presently contributes to the food security of various regions of the world where other traditional cooking bananas produce small yields due to various phytopathological factors. It is not apt for export since the fruit ripens very quickly after harvesting. The best way to grow this variety is in family plots and to pick fruit as needed in order to avoid unnecessary spoilage. By doing this, the remaining fruit on the tree remains green much longer. (095)

TYPE: DESSERT, COOKING
GENETICS: AABB (032) (079)
HEIGHT: 10-12 (032) (079)
DISEASE: Black Sigatoka resistant, Panama resistant, Moko resistant, Nematode tolerant.
HIGHLIGHTS:

R-S