MTSOSi! AKt> COORG. 3^1 



stoutly sheathed at the base and giving the short 

 trunk almost a bulbous appearance, 8 — 10 feet in, 

 length by 2 in breadth, seldom splitting except in 

 age, cuneate and often reddish at the base. The 

 plant dies after seeding, and it does not throw out 

 offsets. A somewhat coarse fibre is afforded by 

 the stem and petiole. " Dr. Dymock has recently 

 found a sweet, translucent, jelly-like manna exuding 

 from the plant, which, when dried at a low tem- 

 perature, yielded 82" 3 per. cent, of fermentable 

 sugar. " {Hooper, Chem. Notes on Mannas, 1891.) 



The fruit of the wild plantain is not edible, but it 

 matures seed from which the specie-s is readily 

 multiplied. 

 588 Musa sapientum, Ltnn. Kan. Bale. 



References. — Fl. of Brit. Ind.; Diet, of Econ. 

 Prod, of Ind. ; Drury U. PI. 



The banana tree. There are many varieties of 

 this useful species, which have been cultivated in 

 Indian gardens from pre-historic time. But like 

 the plantain tree, the banana is essentially domesti- 

 cated, and soon becomes extinct if wholly left to its 

 own resources. It follows the haunts of men, and 

 occupies a place in nearly every locality where 

 there is irrigable land and density of population. 

 Patches of cultivation adjoin every important 

 village in the low country, adding a verdant beauty 

 to the scene which is distinctly tropical in its effect. 

 The several varieties of banana furnish the table 

 fruit, which is consumed in the raw state ; but under 

 special preparation they also afford banana meal 

 and are made into cakes and puddings. Enormous 

 quantities of fruit are consumed in Indian cities, 

 where the market value is higher than in the 

 country, but the supply is always equal to the de- 

 mand and even the poorest classes are able to secur© 

 a share of this nutritious fruit. In addition to 



41 



