robguz24

TEXTURE-Pasty and a bit mealy. Kind of like a grocery store Cavendish, but more dry, almost like it is crossed with an Iholena. Strings from the peel stick to the fruit, which I don’t like.

FIRMNESS-These remain surprisingly firm, given how ripe they appear.

SWEETNESS-Sweet, less than a ripe Cavendish.

TARTNESS-It has just a little bit of tanginess which makes the overall flavor more interesting than a Cavendish. Similar to, but less than in a ripe Iholena.

RIPENESS-Terrible with green on the peel. Tried also with just a bit of green on the stem, but ultimately best when totally yellow with some brown.

FLAVOR-Really like a Cavendish/Iholena cross. Classic banana flavors without the cav aftertaste, and just a bit of tanginess.

OTHER-Fruit is somewhat fragrant. Flesh is a pleasing orange. These were bought at a local health food store and they’re Big Island grown. Even when very ripe, they don’t open from the stem as easily as most others at the same stage of ripeness.

OVERALL RATING-6. I had high hopes for this one, mostly because of Dan Koeppel’s opinion on wanting them to be a Cavendish replacement. I don’t think I would buy these again. The ones I grow myself will hopefully be better than this, or I may not keep it. I’ve had local Williams that I prefer over these. I am biased because I don’t like bananas with pasty, mealy textures, and this had dryness added to that, which didn’t help. The flavor is just OK.

SUGGESTED USE-Use them like a Cavendish.

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servatusprime

Appreciate the report. This was one I was curious about. I recall in another thread some confusion with a few varieties and spellings of the same name. Doesn't appear to be a winner.

chong

I don't know if this is due weather differences, but the photos you posted and the description do not appear to be that of the Philippine Lacatan that I grew up with. There are three varietal sources of Lacatan in the Philippines: Cavite, Davao, and common. I listed that in order of mature p-stem height. Cavite the shortest and the common the tallest. Cavite and Davao fruits are slightly shorter, but their diameters are the same as the common. There are no difference in taste. Once the fruits are cut from the p-stem, there is no way of really telling apart.

robguz24

That's interesting. I bought these and wasn't able to see the plant they came from. They were labeled Lakatan, but there were also some blue bananas labeled Cardaba, which of course were Ice Cream. However, I found them consistent with the description in the Kepler & Rust book and on this page- Tropical Fruit Blog!: Do you know your banana cultivars? . They also call it Berangan. The Lacatan with a "c" is something different and maybe you're referring to that one? Did the one you're referring to have orangish fruit? If not, then it sounds like it's not the same Lakatan.

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chong

Lacatan or Lakatan is the same plant/fruit. The variety that comes from the Carribean took a Westerly route from the Philippines through Europe and Africa. That is the common Lacatan, which grows 15-18 feet tall. The other variety took the Easterly route to Mexico. This one grows 7-9 feet tall.

Before Marcos implemented nationalistic programs late in his presidency, many nouns contained Spanish letters because, in most cases, they were named by the Spaniards who occupied the Philippines for over 350 years. C, f, j, ñ, q, v, x, and z are absent from the Tagalog alphabet. When Lacatan was named, Spanish was the national language in the Philippines. So, it was spelled with a "c". Although Lacatan is still spelled by some that way, it is now mostly spelled as Lakatan. In regards to the fruit and plant, the 3 Lacatan varieties are virtually the same in taste and color. The differences are in the length of the fruit and the height of the p-stem. The 3 varieties of Lacatan are only distinguished by their original major sources, i.e., Cavite, Davao, and common variety to all the provinces including the first two. I listed them in order of the shortest to the tallest. The fruits of all of them are about the same in diameter, but the first two are a little bit shorter. Their taste is indistinguishable.

As far as my knowledge of Philippine cultivars, I learned about them from my aunt who got two shiploads of bananas twice a week in Manila from Davao. We moved to the Manila permanently in 1950 from Camarines Sur in the Bicol region, and since then until I left for the US in 1966, we would get 2 or 3 bushels of bananas twice a week. I challenge anyone to top the number of varieties of banana that I've tasted. As for what varieties we got regularly, Lacatan is usually is second in numbers to Latundan, and third was Bungulan (green banana very sweet like fig), then Saba. Occasionally, we get Señorita, Cardaba, Dinorado(Dorado), smaller versions of Señorita (whose names I now forget) Although the last time I ate Lacatan was in 2004, I'm still quite familiar with the fruit. For example, the pulp color is distinctly a shade of orange-pink and the skin is a shade of orange. In both cases, the colors are a little darker with Philippine Lacatan than in the photos. In your photos, the pulp is white and the skin is pale yellow. The texture is not as mealy as in the picture and definitely not pasty. It is firmer than the banana in the US and the texture is close. It is definitely pleasingly sweeter and tastier than the US bananas. Comparing tastes with other bananas, to me: Lacatan, Señorita and other derivatives come first; followed by Gros Michelle, true Cavendish, and Latundan and Bungulan (if both are at the right stage of ripeness); then Baby bananas sold in the US, then the rest of the other varieties in the US. I did not mention Saba because it is considered a cooking banana (not plantain) and not usually eaten out of hand. We cook it green or ripe in various dishes or by themselves, boiled, fried or roasted, and preserves.

In my previous post, I mentioned that due to geographical and weather differences, the Lacatan in HI may have a different texture, color and flavor. This is true for mangos. The mangos from FL, Mexico and South America are nowhere near those from the Philippines, even the ones that are labeled Philippine or Manila mangos.

robguz24

Sounds like we are talking about the same fruit then. I've noticed before with other fruit that pictures never seem to capture the color just right. The fruit is more orange than it looks in the picture, and now that they are very ripe, even the peel has more of an orange color to it than most bananas, certainly than cavendish types. It's definitely not white. It's as orange as an Iholena or Hua Moa. I imagine the difference has a lot to do with the difference in where it is grown as you state. Brazilians in HI are definitely more tasty and creamy than in Brazil.

I'd agree with you that the one I am tasting is firmer than a US market cavendish (or did you mean US grown cav?) with a similar texture.

Kepler and Rust state that the Jamaican one is a cavendish type and that the one from the Philippines has uniquely rounded buds at the tip (both male and female stages).

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BrianOC714

Thanks for the report. Lots of good information in this thread.

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My bananas:

AeAe
Apple Manzano
Blue Java
Dwarf Cavendish
Dwarf Namwah
Dwarf Red
FHIA-1 Goldfinger
Grand Nain
Gros Michel
Pisang Klotek
Rajapuri
SH-3640
Veinte Cohol

chong

The Jamaican one is a cavendish type, but the Lacatan at USDA TARS is a gros michel type.[/quote]

I will have to reread the book on bananas that was written in the early 20s about the Westerly traveled Lacatan. It's been at least 10 years since I read it last. I know that the shorter Easterly traveled version was carried by the Spaniards to Mexico on the Galleon Trade route. The Lacatan at the USDA TARS is the tall version, so that must be the Carribean version. Unfortunately, when certain varieties are introduced into certain regions, and those varieties become popular or in demand, someone in the region may have something that looks close to the newly introduced variety, he may start calling it by the same name so that he can get the benefits, financial or notoriety, for having the newly introduced variety. This is true in the Philippines, not only in bananas but for other fruits as well. One fruit that comes to mind is the so-called "manguelas", which is a combination of the names "manga (mango)" and "seniguelas (red/yellow mombin)" and new owners, unfamiliar with the plant, would claim that it is a cross between a mango and seniguelas to. Actually, it is a form of seniguelas (Spondias mombin). Maguelas is Spondias dulcis/Spondias cheterea. So it is definitely not from the Mangifera (mango) lineage, although Mangifera and Spondias are actually related. The common name of manguelas is Ambarella. Imagine, a cross between mango and mombin??? So the owners can ask a higher price for their seedlings. In fact, Ambarella is native from the Malayan peninsula to the Philippines. So, someone from Jamaica may have had a nice clump of Cavendish and started calling it "Lacatan", thus the start of Lacatan strain with Cavendish qualities. I've read that in Cuba, the Lacatan has qualities similar to the Philippine variety.

Attached are excerpts from a couple of sources:

Attached Images

	PhilippineLakatan.pdf (196.0 KB, 19 views)
	LakatanSubGroup.pdf (128.3 KB, 15 views)

sunfish

Lacatan banana - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lacatan (West Indies, Jamaica, Latin America) = 'Masak Hijau' (Indonesia, Malaysia) (AAA Group)

Lacatan (Philippines) = 'Lacatan' (AA Group)

Musa (AA Group) 'Lacatan'

SYNONYM(S) : Musa acuminata Colla (AA Group) 'Lacatan', Musa x paradisiaca L. ssp. sapientum (L.) Kuntze var. lacatan Blanco ?

ENGLISH: Lacatan banana.

FRENCH: Banane lacatan des Philippines.

JAPANESE : ラカタン バナナ Rakatan banana.

TAGALOG : Lakatan, Lacatan (see "Confusing Names").


A little confusion with 'Lakatan Yellow' (AAA group) and 'Lakatan Red' (AAA group).

PR-Giants

Lakatan (Mindoro I)

Plant general appearance
Leaf habit: Intermediate
Dwarfism: Normal
Pseudostem
Pseudostem height (at maturity): 2.93 m
Pseudostem girth (at 1m): 45.53 cm
Pseudostem colour (external): Yellow
Pseudostem appearance: Shiny
Predominant underlying colour: Pinkish to light green
Pigmentation of the underlying pseudostem: Red to brown
Sap colour: Watery
Wax on leaf sheaths: Moderately waxy
Petiole/midrib/leaf
Blotches at petiole base: Sparse blotching
Blotches colour: Brown
Petiole canal leaf III: Open with margins spreading
Petiole margins: Winged and not clasping pseudostem
Wing type: Not dry
Petiole margin colour: Green
Edge of petiole margin: With colour
Petiole margin width: 0.79 cm
Leaf blade length: 242.80 cm
Leaf blade width: 63.00 cm
Leaf ratio: 3.85
Petiole length: 34.40 cm
Colour of leaf upper surface: Green
Appearance of leaf upper surface: Shiny
Colour of leaf lower surface: Medium green
Appearance of leaf lower surface: Dull
Wax on leaves: Moderately waxy
Insertion point of leaf blades on petiole: Symmetric
Shape of leaf blade base: Both sides rounded
Leaf corrugation: Very corrugated
Colour of midrib dorsal surface: Yellow
Colour of midrib ventral surface: Medium green
Inflorescence/male bud
Peduncle weight: 1.81 kg
Peduncle length: 61.55 cm
Peduncle width: 5.36 cm
Empty nodes on peduncle: 1
Peduncle colour: Green
Peduncle hairiness: Very hairy, short hairs
Bunch position: Hanging vertically
Bunch shape: Cylindrical
Bunch appearance: Lax
Rachis type: Truncated
Rachis position: Falling vertically
Rachis appearance: Neutral flowers, withered bracts on whole stalk
Male bud type: Normal (present)
Male bud shape: Intermediate
Bract
Bract base shape: Medium shoulder
Bract apex shape: Intermediate
Bract imbrication: Young bracts slightly overlap
Colour of bract external face: Red-purple
Colour of bract internal face: Orange-red
Colour on the bract apex: Not tinted with yellow
Colour stripes on bract: Without discoloured lines
Bract scars on rachis: Very prominent
Fading of colour on bract base: Discontinuing
Male bract shape: x/y = 0.3
Male bract lifting: Lifting two or more
Bract behaviour before falling: Revolute
Wax on the bract: Very waxy
Presence of grooves on the bract: Moderate grooving
Male flower
Male flower behaviour: Falling before the bract
Compound tepal basic colour: Cream to yellow
Compound tepal pigmentation: Rust-coloured spots
Lobe colour of compound tepal: Yellow
Lobe development of compound tepal: Developed
Free tepal colour: Translucent white
Free tepal shape: Oval
Free tepal appearance: Several folding under apex (corrugated)
Free tepal apex development: Developed
Free tepal apex shape: Triangular
Anther exsertion: Exserted
Filament colour: White
Anther colour: Yellow
Pollen sac colour: Cream
Style basic colour: Cream
Pigmentation on style: Without pigmentation
Style exsertion: Inserted
Style shape: Straight
Stigma colour: Gray
Ovary shape: Arched
Ovary basic colour: White
Ovary pigmentation: Very few
Dominant colour of male flower: Cream
Fruits
Planting to flowering: 322 days
Flowering to harvest: 99 days
Planting to harvest: 421 days
Bunch weight: 11.31 kg
Number of hands per bunch: 6
Number of fruits per bunch: 81
Fruit weight: 103.45 g
Fruit length: 121.76 mm
Fruit width: 32.94 mm
Fruit thickness: 30.48 mm
Fruit shape (longitudinal curvature): Curved
Transverse section of fruit: Slightly ridged
Fruit apex: Blunt-tipped
Remains of flower relicts at fruit apex: Persistent style
Fruit pedicel length: 11.09 mm
Fruit pedicel width: 11.78 mm
Pedicel surface: Hairless
Fusion of pedicels: Partially fused
Mature fruit peel colour: Orange
Fruit peel thickness: 2.20 mm
Fruit peel weight: 24.88 g
Adherence of the fruit peel: Fruit peels easily
Cracks in the fruit peel: Cracked
Flesh weight: 77.08 g
Pulp colour at maturity: Yellow
Fruits fall from hands: Persistent
Flesh texture: Firm
Edible portion: 74.51%
Predominant taste: Sweet
Pulp TSS: 25.12ºBrix



Lakatan (Mindoro II)

Plant general appearance
Leaf habit: Intermediate
Dwarfism: Normal
Pseudostem
Pseudostem height (at maturity): 2.64 m
Pseudostem girth (at 1m): 42.52 cm
Pseudostem colour (external): Light/Yellow-green
Pseudostem appearance: Shiny
Predominant underlying colour: Pinkish
Pigmentation of the underlying pseudostem: Dark brown
Sap colour: Watery
Wax on leaf sheaths: Very few wax
Petiole/midrib/leaf
Blotches at petiole base: Sparse blotching
Blotches colour: Brown
Petiole canal leaf III: Open with margins spreading
Petiole margins: Winged and not clasping
Wing type: Not dry
Petiole margin colour: Green
Edge of petiole margin: With colour
Petiole margin width: 0.75 cm
Leaf blade length: 335.50 cm
Leaf blade width: 63.50 cm
Leaf ratio: 5.28
Petiole length: 35.75 cm
Colour of leaf upper surface: Green
Appearance of leaf upper surface: Shiny
Colour of leaf lower surface: Medium green
Appearance of leaf lower surface: Dull
Wax on leaves: Moderately waxy
Insertion point of leaf blades on petiole: Symmetric
Shape of leaf blade base: Both sides rounded
Leaf corrugation: Very corrugated
Colour of midrib dorsal surface: Yellow
Colour of midrib ventral surface: Medium green
Inflorescence/male bud
Peduncle weight: 1.75 kg
Peduncle length: 63.25 cm
Peduncle width: 5.24 cm
Empty nodes on peduncle: 1
Peduncle colour: Green
Peduncle hairiness: Very hairy, short hairs
Bunch position: Hanging vertically
Bunch shape: Cylindrical
Bunch appearance: Lax
Rachis type: Truncated
Rachis position: Falling vertically
Rachis appearance: Male flowers/bracts above male bud
Male bud type: Normal (present)
Male bud shape: Intermediate
Bract
Bract base shape: Medium shoulder
Bract apex shape: Intermediate
Bract imbrication: Young bracts slightly overlap
Colour of bract external face: Red-purple
Colour of bract internal face: Orange-red
Colour on the bract apex: Not tinted with yellow
Colour stripes on bract: Without discoloured lines
Bract scars on rachis: Not prominent
Fading of colour on bract base: Discontinuing
Male bract shape: Intermediate (x/y = 0.3)
Male bract lifting: Lifting two or more
Bract behaviour before falling: Revolute
Wax on the bract: Very waxy
Presence of grooves on the bract: Moderate grooving
Male flower
Male flower behaviour: Neutral/male flower persistent
Compound tepal basic colour: Cream
Compound tepal pigmentation: Rust-coloured spots
Lobe colour of compound tepal: Yellow
Lobe development of compound tepal: Developed
Free tepal colour: Tinted with yellow
Free tepal shape: Oval
Free tepal appearance: Several folding under apex (corrugated)
Free tepal apex development: Developed
Free tepal apex shape: Triangular
Anther exsertion: Same level
Filament colour: White
Anther colour: Yellow
Pollen sac colour: Cream
Style basic colour: White
Pigmentation on style: Without pigmentation
Style exsertion: Inserted
Style shape: Straight
Stigma colour: Gray
Ovary shape: Arched
Ovary basic colour: White
Ovary pigmentation: Very few
Dominant colour of male flower: Cream
Fruits
Planting to flowering: 325 days
Flowering to harvest: 95 days
Planting to harvest: 420 days
Bunch weight: 9.51 kg
Number of hands per bunch: 6
Number of fruits per bunch: 77
Fruit weight: 102.96 g
Fruit length: 137.05 mm
Fruit width: 37.67 mm
Fruit thickness: 36.93 mm
Fruit shape (longitudinal curvature): Curved
Transverse section of fruit: Rounded
Fruit apex: Rounded
Remains of flower relicts at fruit apex: Persistent style
Fruit pedicel length: 28.07 mm
Fruit pedicel width: 11.38 mm
Pedicel surface: Hairless
Fusion of pedicels: Partially fused
Mature fruit peel colour: Yellow
Fruit peel thickness: 2.42 mm
Fruit peel weight: 34.27 g
Adherence of the fruit peel: Fruit peels easily
Cracks in the fruit peel: Cracked
Flesh weight: 74.38 g
Pulp colour at maturity: Yellow
Fruits fall from hands: Persistent
Flesh texture: Firm
Edible portion: 72.24%
Predominant taste: Sweet
Pulp TSS: 27.74ºBrix



Lakatan (Davao)

Plant general appearance
Leaf habit: Intermediate
Dwarfism: Normal
Pseudostem
Pseudostem height (at maturity): 3.07 m
Pseudostem girth (at 1m): 50.89 cm
Pseudostem colour (external): Red-purple
Pseudostem appearance: Shiny
Predominant underlying colour: Cream
Pigmentation of the underlying pseudostem: Red-purple
Sap colour: Watery
Wax on leaf sheaths: Moderately waxy
Petiole/midrib/leaf
Blotches at petiole base: Sparse blotching
Blotches colour: Dark brown
Petiole canal leaf III: Open with margins spreading
Petiole margins: Winged and not clasping pseudostem
Wing type: Dry
Petiole margin colour: Green
Edge of petiole margin: Colourless
Petiole margin width: 0.77 cm
Leaf blade length: 279.67 cm
Leaf blade width: 70.17 cm
Leaf ratio: 3.99
Petiole length: 30.67 cm
Colour of leaf upper surface: Medium green
Appearance of leaf upper surface: Shiny
Colour of leaf lower surface: Medium green
Appearance of leaf lower surface: Dull
Wax on leaves: Moderately waxy
Insertion point of leaf blades on petiole: Symmetric
Shape of leaf blade base: Both sides rounded
Leaf corrugation: Very corrugated
Colour of midrib dorsal surface: Yellow
Colour of midrib ventral surface: Medium green
Inflorescence/male bud
Peduncle weight: 2.05 kg
Peduncle length: 47.51 cm
Peduncle width: 5.84 cm
Empty nodes on peduncle: 0
Peduncle colour: Green
Peduncle hairiness: Very hairy, short hairs
Bunch position: Hanging vertically
Bunch shape: Cylindrical
Bunch appearance: Lax
Rachis type: Present
Rachis position: Falling vertically
Rachis appearance: Neutral flowers on whole stalk without persistent bracts
Male bud type: Normal (present)
Male bud shape: Intermediate
Bract
Bract base shape: Medium shoulder
Bract apex shape: Intermediate
Bract imbrication: Young bracts slightly overlap
Colour of bract external face: Purple
Colour of bract internal face: Red
Colour on the bract apex: Not tinted with yellow
Colour stripes on bract: Without discoloured lines
Bract scars on rachis: Very prominent
Fading of colour on bract base: Discontinuing
Male bract shape: Intermediate (x/y = 0.28)
Male bract lifting: Lifting two or more
Bract behaviour before falling: Revolute
Wax on the bract: Moderate
Presence of grooves on the bract: Moderate grooving
Male flower
Male flower behaviour: Falling before the bract
Compound tepal basic colour: Yellow
Compound tepal pigmentation: Rust-coloured spots
Lobe colour of compound tepal: Yellow
Lobe development of compound tepal: Developed
Free tepal colour: Tinted with yellow
Free tepal shape: Oval
Free tepal appearance: Several folding under apex (corrugated)
Free tepal apex development: Developed
Free tepal apex shape: Triangular
Anther exsertion: Same level
Filament colour: White
Anther colour: Yellow
Pollen sac colour: Cream
Style basic colour: White
Pigmentation on style: Purple
Style exsertion: Inserted
Style shape: Straight
Stigma colour: Orange
Ovary shape: Arched
Ovary basic colour: Yellow
Ovary pigmentation: Very few
Dominant colour of male flower: Yellow
Fruits
Planting to flowering: 361 days
Flowering to harvest: 110 days
Planting to harvest: 471 days
Bunch weight: 17.93 kg
Number of hands per bunch: 7
Number of fruits per bunch: 124
Fruit weight: 112.98 g
Fruit length: 135.28 mm
Fruit width: 34.56 mm
Fruit thickness: 41.24 mm
Fruit shape (longitudinal curvature): Straight
Transverse section of fruit: Rounded
Fruit apex: Blunt-tipped
Remains of flower relicts at fruit apex: Persistent style
Fruit pedicel length: 26.76 mm
Fruit pedicel width: 12.14 mm
Pedicel surface: Hairless
Fusion of pedicels: Very partially or none
Mature fruit peel colour: Orange
Fruit peel thickness: 2.77 mm
Fruit peel weight: 29.12 g
Adherence of the fruit peel: Fruit peels easily
Cracks in the fruit peel: Without cracks
Flesh weight: 83.82 g
Pulp colour at maturity: Yellow
Fruits fall from hands: Persistent
Flesh texture: Firm
Edible portion: 74.19%
Predominant taste: Sweet
Pulp TSS: 26.20ºBrix



Lakatan (Cavite)

Plant general appearance
Leaf habit: Intermediate
Dwarfism: Normal
Pseudostem
Pseudostem height (at maturity): 3.06 m
Pseudostem girth (at 1m): 49.42 cm
Pseudostem colour (external): Yellow
Pseudostem appearance: Dull
Predominant underlying colour: Cream
Pigmentation of the underlying pseudostem: Pink-purple
Sap colour: Watery
Wax on leaf sheaths: Very few wax
Petiole/midrib/leaf
Blotches at petiole base: Sparse blotching
Blotches colour: Brown
Petiole canal leaf III: Wide with erect margins
Petiole margins: Winged and not clasping pseudostem
Wing type: Not dry
Petiole margin colour: Green
Edge of petiole margin: Colourless
Petiole margin width: 0.88 cm
Leaf blade length: 239.50 cm
Leaf blade width: 73.00 cm
Leaf ratio: 3.28
Petiole length: 39.83 cm
Colour of leaf upper surface: Medium green
Appearance of leaf upper surface: Shiny
Colour of leaf lower surface: Medium green
Appearance of leaf lower surface: Dull
Wax on leaves: Very little
Insertion point of leaf blades on petiole: Asymmetric
Shape of leaf blade base: Both sides pointed
Leaf corrugation: Very corrugated
Colour of midrib dorsal surface: Light green to yellow
Colour of midrib ventral surface: Light green
Inflorescence/male bud
Peduncle weight: 2.09 kg
Peduncle length: 55.35 cm
Peduncle width: 5.87 cm
Empty nodes on peduncle: 0
Peduncle colour: Green
Peduncle hairiness: Very hairy, short hairs
Bunch position: Hanging vertically
Bunch shape: Cylindrical
Bunch appearance: Lax
Rachis type: Present
Rachis position: Falling vertically
Rachis appearance: Neutral flowers, withered bracts on whole stalk
Male bud type: Normal (present)
Male bud shape: Intermediate
Bract
Bract base shape: Medium shoulder
Bract apex shape: Intermediate
Bract imbrication: Young bracts slightly overlap
Colour of bract external face: Red-purple
Colour of bract internal face: Red
Colour on the bract apex: Not tinted with yellow
Colour stripes on bract: Without discoloured lines
Bract scars on rachis: Very prominent
Fading of colour on bract base: Discontinuing
Male bract shape: Ovate (x/y = 0.32)
Male bract lifting: Lifting two or more
Bract behaviour before falling: Revolute
Wax on the bract: Very waxy
Presence of grooves on the bract: Moderate grooving
Male flower
Male flower behaviour: Falling before the bract
Compound tepal basic colour: Yellow
Compound tepal pigmentation: Very few
Lobe colour of compound tepal: Yellow
Lobe development of compound tepal: Developed
Free tepal colour: Tinted with yellow
Free tepal shape: Oval
Free tepal appearance: Several folding under apex (corrugated)
Free tepal apex development: Developed
Free tepal apex shape: Triangular
Anther exsertion: Exserted
Filament colour: White
Anther colour: White
Pollen sac colour: Cream
Style basic colour: White
Pigmentation on style: Without pigmentation
Style exsertion: Inserted
Style shape: Straight
Stigma colour: Orange
Ovary shape: Arched
Ovary basic colour: White
Ovary pigmentation: Very few
Dominant colour of male flower: Yellow
Fruits
Planting to flowering: 311 days
Flowering to harvest: 90 days
Planting to harvest: 402 days
Bunch weight: 13.81 kg
Number of hands per bunch: 7
Number of fruits per bunch: 109
Fruit weight: 113.53 g
Fruit length: 125.63 mm
Fruit width: 36.34 mm
Fruit thickness: 36.06 mm
Fruit shape (longitudinal curvature): Curved
Transverse section of fruit: Slightly ridged
Fruit apex: Blunt-tipped
Remains of flower relicts at fruit apex: Persistent style
Fruit pedicel length: 28.22 mm
Fruit pedicel width: 12.38 mm
Pedicel surface: Hairless
Fusion of pedicels: Partially fused
Mature fruit peel colour: Yellow
Fruit peel thickness: 2.66 mm
Fruit peel weight: 31.49 g
Adherence of the fruit peel: Fruit peels easily
Cracks in the fruit peel: Cracked
Flesh weight: 83.65 g
Pulp colour at maturity: Yellow
Fruits fall from hands: Persistent
Flesh texture: Firm
Edible portion: 73.68%
Predominant taste: Sweet
Pulp TSS: 26.07ºBrix

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sburkhardt99

Hello Banana nuts! I am a Nana junkie but sadly have only been exposed to the Cavendish. I live in hickville North Carolina and cannot find anything else to try. Does anyone know of an online site that I can buy some different species? Lastly what are the top 3 tasting bananas?

Thank you!!

Mudturkle

sburkhardt99 - You might have gotten more responses if you had not posted in this thread, but hey, it's OK with me! I am also a big fan of bananas with not too much experience. But I can give my suggestions, for what it's worth. Online sources? Well, bananas.org has a "Banana Plants For Sale" section Banana Plants For Sale & Auction - Bananas.org
There you can buy from members of bananas.org. So far I've only bought from PR-Giants and had an excellent experience, though I'm sure that others here are reliable too. I have also bought from Welcome to Going Bananas of Homestead, Florida! a couple times over the years. They have a good reputation and seem to be nice and friendly from my dealings with them. There are cheaper sources, but some of them that are very cheap have a bad reputation about mis-labeled plants, etc.
It looks like you are in USDA plant zone 7, so you definitely need winter protection for bananas. I live in zone 8B which is warmer, and even with planting next to the house my exposed bananas died back to the ground this past winter, except Orinoco. You might start with an Orinoco in the ground, and then dig a pup before winter and keep it inside until winter is over. You might have to grow in a large pot indoors during winter and then plant in the ground after danger of frost is over. Good luck, and welcome to the group.

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Central Texas Zone 8B and Gulf Coast zone 9B: Raja Puri, Dw. Brazilian, Dw. Orinoco, Dw. NamWah, Dw. Cavendish, Dw. Green?, Dw. Red? Iholena Tigua, Veinte Cohol, Misi Luki, Pisang Raja.