florida white
 

Anybody see this plant for sale on ebay. It has no green pigment at all. How long can it survive? And look at the price for a plant that obviously will burn in any sunlight. Musa Heliconia Variegated "Florida White" Banana Rare - eBay (item 110241605519 end time Apr-13-08 16:45:48 PDT) :islandsharkbanana:

Re: florida white
 

How would it live with so much white?

Re: florida white
 

I don't think any true plant could survive without any green parts, and I,certainly, would not buy it on e-bay. (I have never bought anything on e-bay; I think it is too prone to scams. I am quite sure most banana buyers can find the same kind of deals elsewhwere, or here, where there is a higher degree of trust.

Re: florida white
 

It has some green at the pstem.

Re: florida white
 

Ok, so I pays you $299 American dollars for this plant, and then another $50 for shipping from Bangkok, Thailand. Then, I can't put it in sun, and possibly not even bright light. I'll even wager the guy just made up what he thought was the best selling name.

Where do I sign? NOT!

Re: florida white
 

Quite ugly, if you ask me. And why do they call it Musa Heliconia? They probably don't even know what it is! It already looks burnt. I wouldn't buy it for 2.99, much less 299!

Re: florida white
 

I actually think it's kind of cool looking LOL but hey, I like to be different, I put in an offer for $1.00... maybe I'll win, what do you all think? LOL

Re: florida white
 

HAHAHAHAHhahahahah! That's funny!

Re: florida white
 

That might be the same guy that his been selling for awhile on ebay, from Bangkok. I think Mark might have ordered a really nice varigated balbisiana type from him. His other ones are better looking and cheaper, maybe he thinks more white means more $green$.

Re: florida white
 

you know id would like to see this plant in person. 300.00 for a plant plus the 50.00 for shipping papers? i dont think so. i think i would pay 100.-150.00 for an ae ae, but for that. nope not this cat. it is pretty, i like funky looking plants.

Re: florida white
 

I'll buy it for $2.99, if the shipping weren't any more than $10-$12!

Re: florida white
 

And I'm sure with the lack of sunshine here in Seattle, it'll be a HIT!

Re: florida white
 

it would be something i could grow in my hallway. its dark in there. lol!

Re: florida white
 

It kind of looks like a regular banana that they've been growing in no light, or maybe what would happen if you grew them under some kind of light they couldn't really use, like black light or something? Has anyone heard of that, or is there no such thing as light that the plants can't use? Just a guess. It really doesn't look healthy.
Could you put one in total darkness most of the time, and then give it just about an hour or two of light a day, like with a grow light and get that kind of result?
I saw some corms that were growing in the basement of the conservatory in the bulb storage area and they were white like that. But the leaves weren't that nice.

Re: florida white
 

Well sad to say my offer was declined. :0491: Maybe next one I'll get lucky!

Yeah Sandy, I agree with you. I actually was thinking about that after i went to bed last night. I think that probably might be true.. they may give it just enough light to survive, plenty of darkness and warmth to keep the leaves growing white.

Re: florida white
 

A few people have ordered from that Ebay seller, and he seems legitimate.
Other varigated Musa for sale from same seller-

Musa Heliconia Variegated Golden Leaves Banana Rare - eBay (item 110241605129 end time Apr-13-08 16:43:02 PDT)
Musa Heliconia Variegated "Florida" Very Rare Banana - eBay (item 190213385790 end time Apr-13-08 16:43:33 PDT)
Musa Heliconia Variegated "Ta - Nee" Very Rare banana - eBay (item 190213386113 end time Apr-13-08 16:45:35 PDT)
Musa Heliconia Variegated "Num - Wa" Banana Rare - eBay (item 110241605513 end time Apr-13-08 16:45:44 PDT)
Musa Heliconia Variegated "Florida Vol.2" Very Rare - eBay (item 190213386919 end time Apr-13-08 16:50:38 PDT)

Re: florida white
 

I'd be willing to bet that was a pup that was separated very recently from a variegated mother plant. No way does that plant survive on its own for much longer. It probably only got to that size because it was using the energy produced from the mother corm. That's why he wants you to "Please Quick Consider," because in a few short weeks it will be dead!

Re: florida white
 

BigDog- I agree 100% Something with that little chlorophyll would never survive to be that size.

Re: florida white
 

Ya, donʻt try to fool yourselves, the same rules apply that you learned back in Mrs. Smiths biology class in 10th grade, plants use green (or red) pigments to produce food for themselves, if there is no color, then it cannot produce food for itself. Since we all know bananas are not parasitic either, and that normal banana plants have color, this one is no good.

I agree with bigdog, it was likely just recently separated and has not been on its own very long. If you grow a plant in less light than it needs it would actually start to become greener (to compensate for the less light, it would make more chlorophyll), to a point, and then it would either die or go dormant, but it would not expend what little energy it had left into the growth of colorless leaves.

Re: florida white
 

Sure looks like a Heliconia with a banana p-steam. Maybe he glued Heliconia leaves on it? Heliconia and musa are closely related. hhhmmm? Think it glows in the dark?

Re: florida white
 

:2783::0496::bananarow::2767::2182::discocrazed:

Re: florida white
 

Boy, I don't know why there have to be all of the strong accusations against the seller. If you're not interested in it, don't buy it. I've followed his auctions for some time and he seems to be completely legitimate. The liklihood of the plant surviving is another matter. Do you feel lucky? Heck, I couldn't even keep my pearl namwah alive so it's not for me! Maybe someone can put it on I.V.! ;)

I asked my friend, a professor writing a book on heliconia about some of these odd banana names a few weeks ago. I forget exactly what he said, but it was something along the lines that heliconia and bananas were previously both classified in the same family. He does have a great price on his variegated heliconia, though (which he also has listed with the musa name).

I have never bought bananas from this guy because his prices are always too high for me, but he does sell quite a bit and has great feedback. I did buy something from birdbangkok and it didn't pass inspection and he was very apologetic and promptly refunded my entire cost.

Re: florida white
 

Other plants this seller lists as Musa Heliconia look very much like a heliconia to me.

Re: florida white
 

Isaac, I did mention that in my post. Those variegated heliconia have sold for much more than that until just recently. The place where I bought my Ae Ae four months ago wanted as much for one of those heliconia as a huge Ae Ae pup!

Re: florida white
 

Didn't really mean for my comments to be negative. It just bugs me when people call something by two completely different names. I realize that heliconias and bananas are related but so are roses and hawthorn trees (both in the Liliaceae family) and you certainly wouldn't advertise that you had a rose hawthorn for sale. Also, it does seem a bit underhanded to me to try to sell something that, in my opinion, doesn't really have much chance to live. Didn't mean to offend anyone, if I did. Cheers!

Re: florida white
 

He probably listed it with both names so it would get more advertisement in different catergories. At least that's what I would guess.If I was listing an Ensete species on ebay I'd be tempted to put Musa, and banana next to the name just to get some more coverage.

Re: florida white
 

I never thought about that, Kyle. Good point I guess. I just think it confuses those who don't know much about plants.

Re: florida white
 

Many things are called different things in different places. I grow chestnuts and most people in the USA refer to them as a "nut". Nothing in the names of them in other countries gives them any association with other nuts. They are a high moisture fruit that is similar to an acorn (but tastier!). Further, in the UK the term "chestnut" is usually a reference to the horse chestnut, completely unrelated, while they call a chestnut a "sweet chestnut". It can get quite confusing. I suggest not reading too much into why someone is using particular terms in a language that is not native to them. Now for someone that still sells "Ae Ae seeds" on eBay, that's definitely a scam! ;)

Re: florida white
 

Don't forget the $50 shipping and handling. Is this plant still worth $51? Most likely, not. :0493: :2711:

Re: florida white
 

Hey, most of us are fools from whom our money is easily departed. I think at least 95% of our namwah pearls died!!!

Re: florida white
 

I did it as a joke... no one would be trying to sell something for $300 and let it for for $1. :bananadog:

Re: florida white
 

I wonder if they will accept a negative bid of MINUS $49.00. Then I pay 1 dollar to play with it.

Re: florida white
 

No, I am sure they would not. The plant has been relisted for sale with a starting bid of $9.99 and someone has already placed a bid at or above that amount. Shipping is still $50.00.

The only thing about this seller that I don't like is that he takes no responsibility if the plant is confiscated by government officials. So he could send a plant full of pests and the buyer gets to eat it. On the other hand, "birdbangkok" refunded my full purchase price when USDA officials said they found scale on the plant he sent me and he was very apologetic.

Re: florida white
 

Yeah, I wouldn't trust that either. Glad that the other seller refunded the money on your plant that you did buy!