265 
leaves on the outside are covered with a species of white wax ” (van 
Nooten’s Java, 
igg, in his dictionary of the Sunda language, gives a list of about: 
40 names of plantains in Western Java. The word djaww is the Sunda 
for pisang or plantain. The most singular is the lubang, or eel plantain, 
described by Kurz as “ a very rare variety ; the pes is said to ripen in 
the stem before it is protruded hence, likened to an eel in a hole." In 
the sambatu the fruits grow together, as if pitied into one mass. 
Marsden, in his history of Sumatra, mentions that there are 20 
varieties cultivated in that island, of which pisang raja, pisang dinger, 
and pisang kalé are the best. 
f the bananas of Siam little is recorded, The fruit is there called 
tun-bloi or kloh-eh. Mason collected the names of 25 varieties in 
urm 
Specimens of fresh fruits of pisang maas, of pisang susu, aud of 
pisang tandok, preserved in spirit, are fer 1e Kew Museum, from 
Burbidge, in the he ns of the Sun, oa 321-2, reviews the different 
varieties of plantai ibd bananas that came under his observation in 
the East, as shot. :—- 
“ Last on my list, but by no means least amongst the tropical fruits of 
astern gardens, comes the pisang, or banana, which here, as elsewhere 
wherever it is cultivated, is represented by many varieties, which differ in 
size of fruit, flavour; and other r particulars. One of the most common 
varieties met with in the bazaars is pisang maas, or golden ania, the 
individual fruits of which are small, but of a bright golden colour and of 
excellent flavour. One of the most esteemed of all is pisang raja, or king 
of bananas, a larger fruit, also of a deep golden colour, the flavour being 
very luscious. Pisang hijau, t the green banana, is slender and angular, 
but the straw-coloured pulp is of a most exquisite flavour, and it is quite 
the iety i . 
Pisang kling is ap pde e yellow kind, bearing large smooth fruits, and for 
eating with aw this is one of the best, being less sweet than those 
just named. rge horned variety of banana (generally used in a 
cooked state) is common in Borneo, called of the natives pisang tandok, 
the individual rus ki a foot long and two inches in diameter. The 
outer skin is green, changing to yellow when fully ripe, and this fruit is 
liked by those dio ‘do not relish the sweeter kinds.’ 
POLYNESIA. 
There are numerous wild and seed-bearing bananas in the islands of 
Polynesia probably undescribed. Specimens of these, but not sufficient 
for determination, have been received at Kew from the Solomon Islands, 
from Mr. H. B. Guppy, = from Timor Laut from Mr. H. O. Forbes. 
Ellis mentions that in the Society Islands nearly 20 kinds of 
plantains (probably. forms rd M. Fehi), very large and -e 
w 
d in the mountains. hese are rich and agreeable w 
EY. but most unpalatable em raw. They have a red skin nir a 
t yellow pulp. Their native name is fei." The best banana in 
Tahiti i is called Aeaumene. 
TROPICAL AFRICA, 
The Nera vatieties of bananas and plantains cultivated in tropical 
ot been investigated. The native names quoted appear to 
stand ing for banana or plantain, and, except in one or two instances, 
