36 BULLETIN 55, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 
into Hawaii from tropical America. Plants received from the Porto 
Iiico Experiment Station in October, 1904, were listed under acces- 
sion No. 24. The variety is sometimes erroneously called the " Porto 
Eican banana." Botanically, it is a true plantain (Musa para>- 
disiaca). It grows well in loose rocky soil where there is abundant 
rainfall (pi. 12, B) and is given culture very similar to that given the 
Maoli banana. In some localities the common plantain is highly 
prized as a food when cooked. 
Plants. — Erect, 12 to 18 feet tall ; trunk, stout, green with light brown patches, 
sometimes pinkish about base ; leaves, about 8 feet long ; petioles, nearly 2 
feet, stout, margins curved nearly together and slightly reddish ; blade, oblong 
oval somewhat tapering toward apex; greatest width about 24 inches, midrib 
often washed with pink ; underground stem suckers freely with good culture. 
Flowers. — 7 to 10 centimeters long ; ovary, broad and flat, whitish ; perianth, 
light with streaks of red, usually divided forming one free sepal ; lobes, 
prominent, orange colored ; corolla portion often consisting of 2 or 3 trans- 
lucent petals, somewhat flattened ; stamens, 6, with whitish anthers, often 
deformed ; pistil, broad at base of style, grooved down ventral side ; stigma, 
whitish ; lobe flattened. 
Fruit. — Bunches 26 to 38 pounds, consisting of 5 to 7 hands, with 2 to several 
fingers, divergent, each 10 to 14 inches long, iy 2 to 2 inches in diameter, 
angular, curved, base stalked ; apex, long and pointed ; skin, rather tough, 
smooth and yellow ; pulp, pale salmon ; core, inconspicuous. 
DWARF PLANTAIN 
The dwarf plantain (No. 4491) was introduced into Hawaii from 
the Porto Rico Experiment Station on October 31, 1904, under 
accession No. 44. In parts of tropical America it is known as 
" Macho Enano," and " Plantano Enano." Botanically, it is classi- 
fied as Musa paradisiaca. The dwarf plantain does not seem to be 
well adapted to Hawaiian conditions. It requires a large amount 
of moisture, humidity, and good drainage and protection from wind. 
It resembles the common plantain, but is much smaller. 
Plants. — Dwarf among plantains, 6 to 8 feet tall ; trunk, slim, olive green, 
with brownish patches at base of petioles ; clumps, small ; leaves, dark green ; 
petioles, short, with reddish lines along margins and at base; blade, broad 
and cordate. 
Flowers. — Pistillate flower, including ovary, 7.7 centimeters long; perianth, 
whitish, washed with pale red ; lobes, bright yellow ; petal, long, translucent 
with yellow apicula ; sometimes two additional petals, free or partly attached 
to inside of perianth ; ovary, 3 to 4 centimeters long ; greenish, stout, and club- 
shaped ; stamens, 6, 4 centimeters long ; anthers, whitish ; style of pistil, 
abruptly swollen at base and grooved down ventral side; stigma, rather small, 
3-lobed, pale yellow. Sterile flowers are few. 
Fruit. — Bunches 18 to 25 pounds; fingers, 8 to 12 inches long at maturity, 
3 angled, 1% to 1% inches in diameter, light green to yellowish when ripe; 
flesh, salmon colored and core, noticeable ; flavor, subacid ; 3 to 5 hands to 
bunch, 3 to 5 fruits to hand. Useful as plantain flour for delicate pudding. 
HAWAIIAN VARIETIES 
MAOLI GROUP 
Varieties of the Maoli group have unusually large plants requir- 
ing great quantities of moisture and considerable protection from 
the wind. The bunches of fruit are large and compact; individual 
fruits are long, well-filled to the ends, and covered with thick, heavy 
