392 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Musa continued. 



necessary, the leaves being so soon torn by rough wind. 

 M. coccinea, a dwarf-growing slender species, with a 

 brightly-colonred inflorescence, may be grown well in 



Musa continued. 



M. Cavendishli (Cavendish's).* I. deep green, oblong, 2ft. to 3ft. 

 long, 1ft. to 2ft. wide. h. 5ft. to 6ft. China, 1829. A well-known 

 dwarf-growing species, requiring less heat than many others. See 



M. coccinea (scarlet).* fl., inflorescence terminal, 

 about 1ft. long, furnished with spathes of a brilliant 

 scarlet, tipped with yellow. Flowering at various 

 times throughout the season. I. entire, oblong, about 

 3ft. long and 6in. broad, bright dark green. Pseudo- 

 stem about Sin. in circumference. A. 4ft. Cochin 

 China, 1793. A very ornamental plant. (A. B. R. 

 47 ; B. M. 1559 ; L. B. C. 475.) 



H. Ensete (Ensete).* I. oblong, nearly erect, about 

 16ft. long and 4ft. wide, of a fine bright green, with 

 a broad, bright crimson, stout midrib. Pseudo-stem 

 usually very thick, attaining sometimes a diameter 

 of more than 3ft. at the base, and a height of from 

 13ft. to nearly 20ft. Abyssinia, 1853. The best- 

 known species in this country, being the hardiest and 

 best adapted for sub-tropical gardening. (B. M. 5223.) 



M. paraclisiaca (Paradise). Adam's Apple Plantain. 

 /., spadix nodding, fr. ascending, long-sub-cylin- 

 drical, incurved, lin. long. I. oblong. Stem green, 

 ft. 20ft. Tropics, 1690. (L. B. C. 684.) 



FIG. 606. MUSA CAVENDISHII. 



lOin. pots for winter decoration of tropical houses. 

 Musas require a strong loamy soil, with plenty of manure 

 added, and almost any amount of heat and moisture 

 may be given in summer. In winter, a resting season 

 should be allowed, water being almost, or, in some 

 case, entirely, withheld. Propagation may be effected 

 by seeds, sown in heat, during spring; and most of 

 the species produce suckers, which also afford a ready 

 method of increase. The plants are sometimes cultivated 

 for their fruits, but not extensively, on account of the 

 great space, and the amount of heat required. M. Caven- 

 dishii is the most compact-growing species for this 

 purpose, and the one which is, perhaps, most certain to 

 succeed. Strong suckers must be obtained to start with, 

 and grown on in pots until established. They should 

 then be planted in a prepared bed of very rich soil, and 

 encouraged to grow vigorously by maintaining a high 

 temperature and humid atmosphere. The time taken in 

 growing plants to fruiting size varies considerably ac- 

 cording to the treatment given in cultivation. A stem 

 which produces a bunch of fruits, dies away very soon 

 afterwards, but one or more strong suckers usually pro- 

 ceed from the base before this takes place. 

 M. africana (African). I. oblong, petiolate, in the young plant 

 about 3ft. long, spreading, of a bright green colour, the petiole 

 purplish, with a narrow purple margin. Pseudo-stems also flushed 

 with a purplish tinge, which is continued along the back of the 

 prominent midrib. Angola, 1871. A very tine dwarf-habited 

 species, with a sturdy growth. 



M. assamica (Assam). I. crowded, tufted, elliptic-lanceolate, 

 stalked, about 1ft. in length, very unequal-sided at the base, acute 

 at the apex, and running out into a slender, tendril-like point ; 

 green, with a narrow purple border. Pseudo-stems slender, about 

 lift, high green. Assam, 1871. A dwarf -habited and elegant 

 plant, and an excellent subject for table decoration. 



FIG. 607. MUSA ROSACEA, showing (1) Habit, (2) detached Young 

 Infructescence, and (3) Cluster of Fruits. 



M. rosacea (rosy). Mauritius Plantain-tree. fl., spadix nodding 

 or erect ; male flowers deciduous ; spathe elliptic, very obtuse. 

 March, fr. oblong. I. oblong, unequal or obliquely cordate at 

 the base. Mascarene Islands, &c., cultivated 1805. See Fig. 

 607. (B. E. 706 ; L. B. C. 615.) 



M. sangulnea (bloody), fl. yellow : bracts blood-red. I. linear-ob- 

 long, 2ift. long. Stem 3ft. to 4ft. high. Assam, 1872. (B. M. 5975.) 



M. sapientum (wise men's).* True Banana. I. deep green, 

 oblong, from 8ft. to 10ft. long, and 1ft. wide. h. 20ft. Tropics, 

 1729. There are a great number of varieties of this species, with 

 the fruits varying much in form, colour and flavour ; sometimes 

 the large clusters weigh as much as 701b. or 801b. The fruit, which 

 is eaten either fresh, cooked, or dried, is of the highest importance 

 to the inhabitants of the tropics of both the Old and New Worlds. 

 "Though less nutritious than wheat or potatoes, yet the space 

 occupied by their culture, and the care required, are so very much 

 less, that Humboldt has calculated the produce of Bananas com- 

 pared to that of wheat as 133 to 1, and to that of potatoes as 44 

 to 1" ("Treasury of Botany"). 



M. s. vlttata (striped).* I. with a bright green ground, beauti- 

 fully striped and blotched with white. Tropical Africa, 1862. 

 An elegant variety. (B. M. 5402.) 



M. snmatrana (Sumatran).* I. oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, 

 glaucous-green, prettily marked with transverse, oblong, more or 

 less confluent, chestnut spots. Sumatra, 1880. (I. H. 375.) 



M. superba (superb).* I. oblong. Pseudo-stem swollen at the 

 b;ibe. h. 14ft. India, &c., 1820. A very distinct and har.dsome 



