THE ORIGIN OF OPIUM 369 



it is of South Asian origin. There are an enormous 

 number of cultivated varieties forty-four are described ; 

 they can all be arranged in two groups, the large-fruited 

 bananas (fruit 7 inches to I 5 inches long), and the small- 

 fruited bananas, commonly called fig-bananas (fruits I 

 inch to 6 inches long). All are equally entitled to the 

 name " plantain " as well as " banana." The finest 

 flavoured varieties are cultivated in Hindustan, and there 

 only, being often of very great value and rarity. Those 

 which come into the English market are chiefly, if not 

 entirely, of West Indian production. The foliage of the 

 banana palm consists of oblong leaves of magnificent size 

 and unbroken surface ; small trees are to be seen in hot- 

 houses (they bear fruit at Kew), and are frequently used 

 for decorative purposes. 



