Flowering Banana

Description:

Musa ornata (Flowering Banana or Ornamental Banana), family Musaceae, is a large tropical evergreen perennial, mainly from lowland areas with high temperature and humidity. It is native to India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (Burma). The inflorescences emerge from the tip of the plant and are erect, elongating, and have pink to lilac, petal-like bracts that open to reveal single rows of 3 to 6 deep yellow-orange, male or female flowers. The fruit is attractive but tends to be inedible.

Habitat:

Makiling Botanic Gardens, a 300-hectare forest park of the Mt. Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems, UPLB-College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines at Los Baños, Laguna.