Musella lasiocarpa
A 'new 'and fascinating banana relative from
southwest China and never before seen in Europe. Remember, you read
about it here first.
Martin Gibbons, The Palm Centre, 563 Upper Richmond Road West, London
SW14 7ED, U.K.
Chamaerops No. 9, published online 23-09-2002
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When Toby Spanner and I were in China last year
on the trail of Trachycarpus nanus we came across many unusual plants,
some of which we could identify, and some we could not. One of the
most unusual was a banana look-alike that we were able to put a
name to, as a friend of Toby's had told us to look out for it. It
is Musella lasiocarpa.
The first example we saw was a potted specimen in
a hotel courtyard in Kunming, Yunnan, but subsequently we were to
see many hundreds more. They are semi-cultivated and are most common
growing at the edges of fields and rice-paddies in country districts
of Yunnan province. The plant itself grows commonly to about 4ft
(1m20) tall, though we did see a few that were perhaps a foot taller.
As can be seen from the photograph, it resembles both banana and
strelitzia, with erect leaves. The semi-wild ones that we saw grew
in clumps and it was difficult to decide whether they had actually
been planted or had sprung up from seeds distributed by birds or
animals.
They develop swollen sappy 'trunks' that are considerably
wider at the base and taper upwards in a distinctive fashion. When
the plant has reached full size, a flower develops at the top of
the stem and no more leaves grow after this time. Apart from being
terminally produced, it is a typical banana flower in that the petals
peel back revealing tiny 'bananas' in groups of 5-10 fruitlets.
Having reached this stage, the plant begins to deteriorate. The
leaves die back leaving a stout stump, which then turns black as
the fruits are ripening. When this stump is quite black and rotten,
the fruits are fully ripe but are hidden in the soft black flesh
of the stump. While all this is happening aloft, down below there
is also some activity. More flowers are produced at the base of
the stump, which appear to be perfectly capable of producing fruit
in their own right. But that's not all: additionally suckers are
produced at the base of the parent plant in some numbers, up to
10 or more spring up, apparently at some speed, for the rotting
stump is surrounded by new plants even as the fruits inside its
crown are secretly ripening.
The fruit itself is like a small banana, but not
much longer than wide, perhaps 4cm by 2 or 3cm. The skin, which
ripens to a yellow/green colour, can be peeled back in the conventional
way revealing mealy white flesh which, while just about edible,
is bitter and astringent .The flesh can be separated along its length
into 3 or 4 segments, and between these are to be found the seeds,
perhaps as few as 5 to a fruit, or maybe as many as 50. They are
jet black when ripe, shiny and extremely hard, with a white scar
where they were attached to the fruit.
What a strange animal this is then: terminal flowering,
rotting into a stump full of ripe fruit, each containing many seeds,
and, as if this weren't enough to ensure its survival, large numbers
of fast-growing suckers AND more flowers produced at the base of
the trunk. Belt and braces AND suspenders.
Curious then that it wasn't more common. Certainly
we saw many hundreds of plants but they were rather spread out,
and very local. With all these methods of reproduction one would
expect to see huge areas of nothing else. Curious also why they
are cultivated at all. The fruits are no substitute for real bananas,
which grow in the same area and are much bigger and more edible,
and although Musellas are certainly ornamental, it is difficult
to imagine Chinese rice farmers planting them for their appearance
alone.
The seeds are a collector's dream, easily gathered,
instantly recognizable as ripe from the condition of the parent
plant, and easily cleaned, ending up as polished and bright as a
handful of black beads. Germination was achieved by mixing them
in a bag of moist peat maintained at 30¾C. The first seeds to germinate
came through inn about two weeks, however the rest are proving much
slower. Seedling growth is quite fast and at the time of writing,
they are about 10-12cm tall.
I believe that this plant has a great future as
an ornamental in this country and on the continent. A fabulous looking
conservatory plant, which won't outgrow its space. Perfect from
the commercial grower's viewpoint: easily reproduced (take your
choice how!) and fast growing. Seeds easily transported and quick
to germinate. The plant looks and feels tough and sturdy, and though
it undoubtedly doesn't have a long life, it can be easily grown
on from its own suckers. A splendid outdoor plant in warmer areas,
with a good chance of being at least root-hardy. Winter protection
in cold areas may consist simply of removing the leaves and covering
the entire stem with a pile of dead leaves.
Another mystery is why this superb plant is not
available in garden centres and nurseries already? I've absolutely
no idea; it's common enough in Yunnan. But I've a feeling it soon
will be.
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