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for their fruit, and not a few that are grown for other purposes, such as 
yielding an edible rootstock or for the sake of the tender flower bud 
eaten asa vegetable. The most widely cultivated species next to M, 
sapientum is M. Cavendishii, the dwarf or Chinese banana, introduced 
to Europe within the last 50 years. Then, according to Kurz, a large 
archipelago are derived from M. acuminata. A very palatable fruit 
with violet pulp is yielded by M. discolor in New Caledonia. M. Fehi 
has an erect. fruiting spike, and the fruit, when cooked is universally 
used in the Pacific Islands. Lastly, M. maculata with a yellow fruit 
spotted with brown, known only as cultivated in Mauritius and Bourbon 
under the name of Figue mignonne, has an aromatic white pulp. The 
rhizome of M. oleracea is boiled or roasted like a yam; and the inner 
bud of M. Ensete is a source of food supplyin Abyssinia. In some form 
or other, however, e vete a a of Musa is of economic importance and 
the numerous uses to whic ey are put in various n of the 
world are only Bdüsiiod Sieb: by the palms and bamboo 
The E en into which Musa is divided br Mr. Baker 
are as follow 
1. Bb gend. Physocaulis (Swollen-stemmed Musas).—Stem 
bottle-shaped and usually not stoloniferous. Flowers many to 
abract. Petal usually tricuspidate. Ai not edible. In this 
group are all the species known to be indigenous to Africa, 
namely: M ventricosa, M. oS M. livingstoniana, and 
M. proboscidea. Of Asiatic species Mr. Baker gives two, M. 
superba and M. nepalensis. The latter said to be from the 
“lower hills of Nepal” has not been found since the days of 
Wallich and is quite unknown at the present time. 
2. Sub-genus Eumusa (true Musas).—Stem a id go 
tapering from the base, usually stoloniferous. Flow any toa 
braet. Petal ovate-acuminate. Bracts green, eoi: or dull 
violet. Fruit usually edible. ‘The species in this group divide 
naturally, per to their height, into dwarf-stemmed and tall- 
stemmed specie The dwarf ar re two Chinese s cies, M. lasiocarpa 
and M. Ca N The tall are M. sapientum and its allies about 
a dozen species in all. They are widely distributed throughout 
Eastern Asia, India to China, and Japan, Borneo, New Guinea, 
North Queensland, and the Islands of the Pacific. 
3. gut he Rhodochlamys (red-bracteated Musas).—Stem 
cylindrical as in true Musas, usually stoloniferous. Flowers few to 
abract. Petal linear. Fruit usually not edible. Bracts bright 
(M. maculata) yields edible fruit. The others, such as M. 
coccinea, M. rubra, M. velutina, and M. aurantiaca, owing to 
their brightly coloured braets, are very ornamental. All are 
from India, Assam, Sumatra, Java, and Cochin-China. 
Key to the Sub-genera and Species of Musa. 
Sub-genus PuvsocaULIS, Baker. Stems short, bottle-shaped. Male 
flowers many to a bract. Fruit not edible. Usually not stoloniferous. 
Seeds few, large (about an inch broad) : 
Male flowers 15-20 in a row. 
Petal tricuspidate - - 1. M Ensete. 
Petal óvate, entire - - -= 2. M. Egi iot 
Male flowers, about 10 in a row - 8. M. Buchanant 
P 
