Jananas Bananas

Thank you Harvey! I was hoping you would post. I hope nothing I said came across negative! That is not my intent at all!!! In the message I pulled my quote from, I could not tell who said what as it seems to run together. I do not know any one here personally like you do and do not want to step on any toes for sure! I made a trade with a super sweet lady, BlueSky, off GardenWeb - and she referred me to this website.

I am trying to distinguish identifiable characterics of the 'Texas Star' banana. I have come across several sources referring to the Dwarf Orinoco as also being called Texas Star and California Gold. I copied one of those as the start of this thread. I am trying to re-discover some Texas heritage.

Both the Texas Star and California Gold were originally purchased in Texas. There are stands of banana growing here all over the state - north to south, east to west. These are unmaintained, not growing in optimum controlled environments. The people that own the properties do not know of any "name" - they are just banana trees, or elephant palms, or just plain pains in the arse. They have been passed down from family to family or sold off to others and the linkage cut. They are very hardy (can't be killed off according to some) and they produce edible seedless fruit. I would like to determine if any of these tough little nuts are, in fact, the original Texas Star banana. Some claims say it has been known to survive a -16 degree winter. I am willing to drive to Witchita Falls if that is what I need to do. It has now become a quest!

That all being said, do you notice any distinguishing characteristics of your Texas Star? Similarities with your California Gold? Orinoco, dwarf or full size?

My sincerest apologies, if I have offended anyone, mis-quoted, or generally riled up the kind folks here. Not my intent. I am just trying to pick your brains. I just would like to preserve some Texas heritage if possible. Thanks! JaNan

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Jananas Bananas