bigdog

Well, there are papers describing both species, both written by Markku Hakkinen. The main difference between Musa itinerans var. itinerans and Musa yunnanensis is the fact that M. itinerans var. itinerans sends pups out up to 6 feet away from the parent pseudostem. Also, M. yunnanensis is very waxy, but M. itinerans var. itinerans is not at all. However, M. itinerans var. chinensis is very similar to M. yunnanensis, exept for the flower and fruit. M. yunnanensis has a very lanceolate-shaped female bud, where M. itinerans has an ovate-shaped bud.

M. itinerans has been described for many years before Hakkinen came along and described 6 varieties (Cheesman, 1949).

As for how big they can get, that is in the descriptions also. I can't speak for how big they can get without freezing back in the winter, because mine freeze back in zone 7a.

Frank