mrbungalow

I have been interested in starting these from seeds this year, and after reading posts here, I see that some people find the seeds and plants of these 2 species similar.

First of all, true Musa Nagensium is one huge banana. Equally, the seeds are supposed to be much larger than sikkimensis, about the size of ensete seeds.

Musa cheesmani has seeds about the size of sikkimensis.

I think Tropicalvr posted a photo on the gardenweb/banana forum, where he has lined up seeds of different musa species, showing size and shape. (Thankyou Tropicalvr!) What struck me here is the relatively small size of musa nagensium, compared to the other species. But now I may have solved the mystery!

I have contacted the main source of banana-seeds for seed-dealers, who is located in India. The answer to all the confusion lies in yet another hybrid. He offers "Musa NagensiumX" AS WELL AS "Musa Nagensium "true form""- IOW,2 types of the same species. Who knows wich one the online seed-dealers put out for sale? This critical difference may not show up on the seed-dealers internet-stores. But it shows up when you get small seeds in the mail, 2 weeks later!

My theory is that Musa NagensiumX is a hybrid between "true form", and Cheesmani. I think they share an ecotype(?), and people report similarities between their Musa Cheesmani and Musa Nagensium.

What do you guys reccon?

erlend

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mrbungalow

From what I understand, some of my thoughts here are wrong!

According to Gabe, Nagensium seeds are large, but they are supposed to be large and white.

Further, most of the seeds offered on internet stores are most likely Nagensium X Balbisiana.

Erlend

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Gabe15

Yes most are hybrid with M. balbisiana. M. balbisiana seed are very distinct, they are normal banana seed size (similar in size to velutina, acuminata....), however they are rough and warty, it seems as though a hybrid between M. nagensium and M. balbisiana could possibly create a small, warty seed.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

mrbungalow

The ones I have that are labeled as Musa NagensiumX are a little bigger than Sikkimensis seeds, rough/worty, and sprout very easily.

The ones from Seedman Labeled Musa Nagensium are smooth, a little lighter brown, but not white. None of these have sprouted yet.

Erlend

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griphuz

The same confusion here,...I have a cheesmani and a nagensium x (last one came from keni I think).

I'm having a little trouble with 'real nagensium seeds are white',...does anyone have some kind of literature-reference to confirm that? (no offence Gabe15) I would very much like to see a picture of nagensium pure seeds...

Gabe15

I cant find any literature on the seeds, but I will post pictures as soon as I get them in a month or so.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

Tropicallvr

Just got the new nagesium seeds from seedman.com, and they do seem a little bigger than the other nagesiums I ordered, and most of them are smooth. They also have a white powder on them, but they are really black/dark brown beneath. I'll try to get some pics comparing the different nagesuim seeds from different sources.

mrbungalow

Yes, same thing here.

The seeds from seedsman are smooth and have a little powder on them, but I wouldn't call them white. they are smooth and look almost like ensete superbum seeds.
BTW, one of these has germinated for me!!!

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