280 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY 



great and representative families, and they deserve to be 

 mentioned in this general survey. 



The banana belongs to a small family most nearly 

 related to the orchids; and, although a tropical plant, it is 

 coming into common use as a foliage plant on account of its 



FIG. 276. A banana plant. After ENGLER and PRANTL. 



beautiful leaves, associated with its relative the canna. 

 It grows from ten to forty feet high, although it is an herb, 

 and bears a crown of very large, pinnately veined leaves 

 (Fig. 276). From fifty to one hundred and fifty fruits are 

 produced in a single cluster, and a plant bears only once. 



