Tas. 7802. 
MUSA o.eracza. 
Native of New Caledonia. 
Nat. Ord. Sciraminra.—Tribe MusEx. 
Genus Musa, Linn. ; (Benth. & Hook. Ff. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 655.) 
Musa (Eumusa) oleracea; tubere subterraneo magno napiformi pluricauli, 
caudice mediocri viridi-violaceo glaucescente, foliis petiolatis 1-2-pedalibus 
oblongis acuminatis basi rotundatis supra saturate viridibus subtus 
pallidis glaucescentibus, nervis primariis distinctis subremotis impressis, 
arcnatis petiolo pedali crasso, spica cernua ad 8 poll. longa breviter 
et crasse pedunculata, pedunculo rhachique viridi, bracteis paucifloris 
inferioribus 6 poll, longis linearibus v. lineari-oblongis obtusis recurvis 
extus fusco-purpureis glaucis intus flavo-rubris clathratim rubro striatis 
apice viridibus, ovario teretiusculo viridi, perianthio 1 poll. longo, calycis 
flavidi fusco picti nervosi lobis 2 exterioribus oblongis obtusis dorso infra 
apicem calcaratis, interioram lobis lateralibus dorso infra apicem 
calcaratis intermedio latiore ecalcarato, corolla calyce triente breviore 
quadrata pallide purpurea margine superiore medio ligula instructa 
v. abrupte acuminata, stigmate clavato apice lobulato. 
M. oleracea, Vieill. in Ann. Sc. Nat. Sér. LV. vol. xvi. (1861) p. 46. 
M. sapientum, Linn. var. oleracea, Baker in Kew Bulletin, 1894, p. 250. 
Poiéte incol. 
Musa oleracea is a very interesting species, being, as far 
as is known, unique in the genus in haying a very large 
underground tuber, replete with starch, which is boiled, 
toasted, or baked as an article of food by the natives 
of New Caledonia, its flavour, according to M. Vieillard, 
resembles that of the yam. The tuber has “eyes” like 
a potato, and the plant may hence be propagated by 
division, 
From M. paradisiaca, M. oleracea is easily distinguished 
by the tuber, the short leaves glaucous beneath, with very 
well defined arching primary nerves, about three-quarters 
of an inch apart, and impressed on the upper surface ; the 
short spike with very few-flowered, long, narrow bracts, 
which are glaucous purple externally, and red within, tho 
much shorter calyx, which is dull yellow stained with 
pale brown or purple, and the colour of the corolla. 
It is said by M. Vieillard never to flower in New Caledonia, 
where it perhaps is known only as a cultivated plant. It 
did not ripen fruit at Kew. 
Novemser Ist, 1901, 
