270 THE BANANA 



27. M. hirta Becc. (Nelle Foreste di Borneo, 622). 

 Inflorescence erect, densely hairy. Bracts of male flowers 

 obovate-lanceolate, acuminate ; male flowers 8-10, in two 

 rows under each bract ; perianth five-toothed at apex, the 

 two lateral teeth apiculate ; free petal of same length as 

 perianth ; fruit about 2 in. long, covered with bristly 

 yellow hair ; seeds small, numerous, about J in. in diameter, 

 irregularly globose. Sarawak, Borneo. 



II. SPECIES OF SUBGENUS RHODOCHLAMYS : 

 28 TO 44 



28. M. maculata Jacq. Trunk slender, 7-8 ft. long. 

 Leaves glaucous beneath, 2J ft. long, 6-8 in. broad. 

 Inflorescence drooping from above the base ; male flowers 

 deciduous ; spathes yellowish brown, the upper oblong, 

 3-4 in. long ; flowers about four in a cluster. Perianth 

 yellowish white, above 1 in. long ; free petal nearly as 

 long. Fruit oblong, 2-3 in. long, 1 in. in diameter, yellow 

 spotted with brown, edible, aromatic ; flesh white. Culti- 

 vated in Mauritius and Bourbon, where it is called " Figue 

 mignonne." Differs from other species of this section by 

 its edible fruit. 



29. M. rosacea Jacq. Trunk 3 to 5 ft. long, 3-4 in. in 

 diameter, suckering. Leaves 3 ft. long, under 1 ft. broad, 

 tinged with purple underneath ; stalk long and slender. 

 Inflorescence drooping or erect, 1 ft. long when mature ; 

 bracts pale blue or reddish lilac, the lower 6-8 in. long. 

 Perianth yellow. Fruit 2-3 in. long, but little pulpy, 

 scarcely edible. Seeds \ in. in diameter, black, tubercled, 

 rarely produced in the cultivated plant. Eastern Himalayas 

 and hills of the Concan. 



30. M. sumatrana Becc. Allied to the previous species. 

 Whole plant 7-8 ft. long. Leaves 5-6 ft. long, 1| ft. broad, 

 glaucous, with irregular blotches of claret brown. Padang, 

 Sumatra, 1100 ft. altitude. 



31. M. microcarpa Becc. (Nelle Foreste di Borneo, 623). 

 Plant smaller than the common banana. Inflorescence 



