414 The Philippine Journal of Science ms 
MUSA PARADISI ACA L. var. MAXIMA Blanco. Batavia, matavia, langai, 
anuang. 
This variety is described by Blanco. The translation is as 
follows : 40 
Individual fruit very large, long, and thick and of consistent flesh, but 
not very delicious. I do not know whether it is native of the Islands. 
T., batavia, matavia, langai, anuang. 
Questionably placed here, although from the description 
apparently one of the plantains. Material for study will be 
available later. 
MUSA PARADISI ACA L. var. ULNARIS Blanco. 
Blanco’s description of this species is translated as follows : 41 
This banana is only known by the Negritos of the mountains of Balanga, 
who sometimes bring its fruit down to the neighboring towns. Those who 
have seen and eaten it report that it is as thick as the calf of the human 
leg, and that it reaches a length of six feet. It is a monstrosity. It has 
no seeds; it is eaten when cooked, and its taste resembles that of the tondoc. 
I take this report as certain, but not what the Negritos say in regard to 
the raceme producing only one fruit. I rather believe that the others do 
not develop to perfection. 
The existence of this banana is questioned, since it has never 
been seen since its description. Its size is probably greatly over- 
stated. It seems likely, from statements by Filipinos, that varie- 
ties of paradisiaca with fruits of great size and few in number 
in a bunch do exist in the Islands. The above form should be 
sought in the original locality, that is in the mountains back of 
Balanga, Bataan Province, Luzon. 
MUSA PARADISIACA L. var. SUBRUBEA Blanco. Hanatuco morado. 
Plate XVI, figs. 1-5. 
The whole plant reaches a height of from 340 to 350 cm and 
has a diameter of from 20 to 25 cm; it produces from 3 to 5 
cylindrical flowering stems in a stool ; the trunk often is mottled 
with black patches. 
The leaves are green; mature blades from 210 to 212 cm 
long and from 68 to 69 cm wide; petiole from 60 to 65 cm in 
length. 
The spike bears 5 hands of mature fruits. 
The flowers (Plate XVI, figs. 1, 2, and 4) are large and purple, 
from 8 to 8.5 cm long and from 1 to 1.5 cm wide; the perigonium 
is narrow with .shallow sinuses ; the scale is oblong, often rounded 
40 Fl. Filip, ed. 1 (1837) 245. 
41 FI. Filip, ed. 1 (1837) 246. 
