musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

hi everyone:woohoonaner:i would like to know about musa sikkimensis?i have the red tiger,and i love the markings and plant,i would like to know if there is a green leaf version,also any other type of sikkimensis?best wishes jazz:waving:

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

As far as I know there's 3 "named" and probably a lot more. The 3 commonly available as plant or seed are the "reg" I assume green variety , the "red tiger" with the markings and "Darjeeling giant" which is a hybrid and also has these markings. At least the ones I grew from seed recently started developing them on new growth. One of the new members from India kind of alluded to the fact that there were many native varieties there. Would we consider them all M. sikkimensis.......don't know. Maybe Gabe or Jon will see this and respond.

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

There's another hybrid available in seed form which is the Musa sikkimensis X Musa paradisiaca. Some of the sprouts seem to develop the maroon lines on the leaf and these are easy to germinate as compared to the species forms.

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

hi bob:goteam:i thought there was 3,i only have the 1,but soon to get the green variety and darjeeling,they are great banana plants,just showed my daughter the red tiger,and the colouring on the leaf,i have so much passion for them,but my daughters response was mom i would rather eat a banana than look at the plant,she doesnt like gardening,but she takes me everywhere to buy my plants,so she gets fed up from time to time,anyway thanks bob once again you came to my rescue cheers:bananas_b

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

hello tog tan from jazz in the uk,thank you for your help,i would like to know do they have pups,best wishes jazz:bananas_b

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

Hi Jazz,

All of the Musa sikkimensis forms and hybrids pup very well once they are over the 8 mth growth stage from seed. It will be interesting to see how many of the hybrid sds actually sprout with 2 p-stems as this happens to hybrids. Kinda a bonus from the start!

I am a big fan of the Musa sikkimensis var Red Tiger but to date I have no luck germinating any of them - I have tried 300 sds so far! I have just ordered another 100 and can't wait to see if I can get 1 to come forward. I won't give up until I have this species in my collection. As far as I know, almost all of the Musa sikkimensis sds in the market are very old as the collector keeps a huge quantity before shipping to the on line seller, Sheessh...

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

Here's Musa 'Balboa'. It is some kind of sikkimensis hybrid. There are more photos and posts elsewhere if you do a search.

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

Here's the varieties and hybrids of Musa sikkimensis that I can think of off-hand:

Musa sikkimensis
Musa sikkimensis 'Red Tiger'
Musa sikkimensis 'Red Flash' ('Manipur' could be the same thing, I think)
Musa sikkimensis x paradisiaca
Musa x sikkimensis 'Darjeeling Giant'
Musa 'Helen's Hybrid'
Musa x sikkimensis 'Balboa Park' (pictured by Rob above)
Musa 'Hajaray'
Musa 'Chini Champa' x sikkimensis (The reciprocal cross of 'Helen's Hybrid')

There's probably more. Simmonds noted that some populations differed significantly. I'd love to see a DNA study done with this species, and you would think that since it is an economically important plant that there would be money available somewhere for someone to do it.

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

Jazz, You may also see Sikkimensis Red Dragon for sale. This is the same as Red Flash and Red Tiger, So don't waste your money thinking its a different variety.

Oh and if you are very lucky like me , you may find a variegated Sikkimemsis:02::02:

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

Lucky? Mate, that's an extremely overly humble understatement....:waving:

Makes me want to kick your butt.....:ha: Maybe that will re-mojo you, ha?

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

Good luck with your 'Red Tiger' Tog, do you try different suppliers or the same one?

Does Marcus Senger supply this variety?

I'm trying all sorts of different methods with the ones I bought in January, down to half the quantity as the others were rotten, I won't give up until they're all rotten!

I won't hold my breath.

Mark, a picture of your varigated sikkimensis would be nice :ha:

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

Ok Mark i surrender how do you find them, you must have a varigate magnet :ha:

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

James, still giving rps a shot....:waving: If it works for me, I will give you some cos I ordered 100 sds, don't really need so many. Nah, nothing from Markus so far.

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

It was one I grew from seed Alan. As its got bigger the Variegation has got a little less.

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

C'mon Mark, show the pix but don't let me catch you adding on extra variegation with your white marker.....:ha::ha::ha:

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

:ha:Give us another week od sun and I will do a picture. The new leaves come out plain green and then turn to the lighter shades after a while.

Same with my Basjoo too!

Re: musa sikkimensis,how many types are there?
 

Hi, i have two musa sikkimensis plants. I bought them as "regular" musa sikkimensis seedlings from ebay.

They are in pots, around 60cm (2 feet) tall now and they grow at the same rate.
The shape of their leaves is the same with some red markings on the newest but they differ VERY much in green colour. One is a light green (like a basjoo), while the other is a very deep green (like the colour of the leaves of a ficus elastica plant). Except this they look exactly the same.

I think the deeper green is more cold hardy, as it does't look so tropical like the lighter one, but maybe i am wrong.
Has anyone notice this difference?