Musa Oa

From Bananas Wiki

Contents 1 Cultivar Name 1.1 Synonyms 2 Pictures 3 Description 3.1 Origin 3.2 Usage 4 Flowering 5 Cultivation 5.1 Known Afflictions 6 Research Notes 6.1 Members Growing This Banana 7 External

Cultivar Name

Musa 'oa'

Synonyms

Pictures

no picture

Description

It grows above Io Valley on Maui. Pope (62, p. 46) believes that they Hawaiians planted the seed "for some medicinal purpose', but informants know of no such use. Thrum (70, p.80) reports that it was brought to Oahu from Kona, Hawaii. Trunk and foliage are dull green tinted with bronze and purple. Oa is unique in having flattened seeds that will reproduce the plant, borne in a tough placenta which is not edible. According to Pope (62, p. 46): "This variety is of value to the banana breeder, because a portion of its flowers are perfect and through self-pollination produce seeds becoming viable in the mature fruit. The staminate flowers produce an abundance of pollen, which also may be used in crossbreeding banana varieties. The Maia-oa is probably a distinct species and was most likely introduced by Polynesians for some medicinal purpose. Considered an ornamental, trunks are dull green with purplish to dark brown splotches. Petioles washed with reddish brown, underside of leaf is bronze and purplish red. Inedible 2-3" fruit with seeds, green with hard skin.

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Origin

Hawaii

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Usage

Flowering

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Cultivation

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Known Afflictions

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Research Notes

• Links to useful discussion threads in the forum:

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Members Growing This Banana

External

• Links

  (Links to other useful pages on the web that mention this banana. Example: International Banana Society)

• Sources