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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