27 



-PLANTAIN MEAL. 

 Nat. Ord. — Musacese. 

 Musa paradisaica. 



The fruit of some species of this order are 

 important articles of food in tropical regions, 

 while many species yield fibres suitable for 

 manufacture into textile fabrics. The fruit of 

 allied species, Musa sapienta, is the well-known 

 Banana. The fruit of M. paradisaica is the part 

 of the plant from which the Starch known as 

 Plantain Meal is obtained. The granules are 

 principally remarkable for their long and narrow 

 shape, the lines are fairly distinct and regular, 

 with a small somewhat indistinct hilum. The 

 plant and its products are used principally in 

 tropical regions. 



