39 



those of the preceding, but they are only slightly curved, angular, the 

 pulp "whitish, of an exquisite taste and odour. 



Akundru-maka'i-faha'i (bananes jaunes or bananes d regime court) : 

 fruit medium size, straight, cylindrical, the skin and the pulp yellow, the 

 latter firm and sweet. 



Akundru-bara-hassok (bananes malartic or bananes rouges) : fruit 

 straight, cylindrical, sometimes slightly cornered, the skin thin and of a 

 red colour when ripe, the pulp yellow-reddish, of a "very sweet taste and 

 odour. 



Bananes malartic vertes of the French. Fruits exactly like those of 

 the preceding, but they remain green also when fully ripe. 



Bananes gigantesques de Chine. Fruit very large, oblong, slightly 

 curved and angular, the skin yellow and very thick, the pulp yellow- 

 reddish, somewhat firm, of a little acid taste. 



Akundru-lambu of the Malgachees {bananes de Chine or bananier 

 nain) : stem very short and very stout, the leaves oval, larger and firmer 

 than those of the other kinds. The raceme often attains such an enor- 

 mous size that one man cannot carry it. Fruits yellow or green, 

 slightly curved and cornered ; pulp yellowish, of an exquisite taste and 

 odour. 



Akundru-zaza (child's banana) of the Malgachees {bananes gingeli of 

 the French) : fruit very small, straight, cylindrical, the skin thin, 

 yellow; pulp yellow, very sweet and of an agreeable odour. This kind 

 is most esteemed. 



Bananas oV Otahiti: fruit somewhat larger than that of the pre- 

 ceding, somewhat curved and angular, the skin yellow or green and very 

 thick ; pulp yellowish and of an agreeable taste. 



Akundru-foutsi of the Malgachees {bananes blanches) : fruits 

 middling sized, straight, cylindrical, the skin and pulp white, the latter 

 of a mediocre taste. 



The banana mentioned above as the Chinese or dwarf banana 'JI. 

 Cavendishii) is a distinct species. This was introduced to England 

 by way of Mauritius in 1827, and first grown in this country by 

 Mr. Barclay at Buryhill. It was afterwards distributed from England, 

 as already mentioned, to the Islands of Polynesia. 



There is a sample of fibre in the Kew Museum from the Botanic 

 Garden, Mauritius, sent by Mr. John Home, F.L.S., 1870, marked M. 

 violacea. This is probably a garden variety of M. acuminata (see p. 2-45), 

 with the stem, fruit, and often the leaves beneath, more or less tinged 

 with violet or purple. 



Although it is pretty well established that the New World received 

 its plantains and bananas originally from the Old World it is evident 

 that there are now numerous varieties establi shed there. Some of these can 

 be recognised as similar, if not identical, with well-known varieties in 

 the East Indies. On the other hand, some have doubtless developed 

 under new conditions of soil and climate and under the incidental varia- 

 tion induced by change of environment and results of cultivation. The 

 local names are very loosely applied. The Spanish names for the most 

 part are limited to three kinds. The true platano arton is the plantain 

 used as vegetable, while the camburi and dominico are varieties of the 

 banana with a sweet fruit, and eaten raw. The dwarf or Chinese 

 banana (M. Cavendishii) has become very common of late years. This 

 was doubtless introduced direct from Mauritius (where we have a first 

 record of it after Cochin China) or by way of England. With the 

 exception of the latter it is probable that the edible-fruited banana and 

 plantains of the New World are all forms of M. sapientum. The 



