60 
MUSA ROSACEA 
inequality of their leaves and the disposition of their flowers. In addition to these 
differences, which are of themselves sufficiently evident to conduce to a ready 
distinction, we may notice another equally clear : still, as it relates to the fruit it 
cannot be of any assistance except when the plant is in a fruiting state. But as 
mistakes are always liable to arise in cases like the present, we shall briefly detail 
it, hoping it will not prove unserviceable. In the tropics, the former, M. para- 
disiaca, is cultivated for its abundant nutritive produce ; and the facility with which 
this is brought to perfection has caused it to be looked upon by the amateur of this 
country as an object worthy of cultivation, more for the usefulness of its fruit than 
the mere novelty of its appearance. Of the latter, M. rosacea, we possess no 
information to show that it is any where grown for the usefulness of its fruit ; in 
short, respecting its existence in its native country we know comparatively little ; 
and the acquaintance our experience has enabled us to form of it since it was 
introduced, has been such as satisfactorily to convince us that in this country, imder 
the most judicious management, its fruit cannot be brought, in any quantity, to such 
a state of perfection as to be mistaken for the former. There are a few instances of 
its having fruited in this country, but, wherever this has happened, the fruit has been 
of inferior quality, compared with that produced by the Common Plantain in this 
country or in the tropics. In the botanical descriptions we are informed that the 
flowers are produced on a spike, and nodding ; or erect and in clusters round the 
stem, the latter being most frequently the case, ilfa/e^flowers deciduous. Spathes 
elliptical (oval-shaped), obtuse. Fruit oblong. The most attractive feature in the 
whole plant is in the flowers, which are of a clear rose-colour, and certainly a well 
grown plant in full bloom ia handsome, when arranged among other exotics. The 
