Musella lasiocarpa

Musella lasiocarpa (syn. Musa lasiocarpa), commonly known as Chinese dwarf banana, golden lotus banana or Chinese yellow banana, is the sole species in the genus Musella.[2] It is thus a close relative of bananas, and also a member of the family Musaceae.

Chinese dwarf banana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Musaceae
Genus: Musella
(Franch.) C.Y.Wu ex H.W.Li[2]
Species:
M. lasiocarpa
Binomial name
Musella lasiocarpa
(Franch.) C.Y.Wu ex H.W.Li[3]
Synonyms[3][4]
  • Ensete lasiocarpum (Franch.) Cheesman
  • Musa lasiocarpa Franch. (basionym)
  • Musella splendida R.V.Valmayor & L.D.Danh

Distribution and habitat

The plant is native to Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan Provinces in China, where it grows high in the mountains up to an altitude of 2500 m.

Description

It is known for its erect, yellow pseudostems (see image), generally appearing during the second year of cultivation, that can last a few months. Just before opening, the yellow, flower-like pseudostem resembles a lotus - from which the plant gets one of its names.

Horticulture

Under its synonym Musa lasiocarpa, this plant has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5] It can be grown outside, but requires protection from freezing temperatures.

References
  1. Plummer, J., Allen, R. & Kallow, S. 2022. Musella lasiocarpa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T98249468A98249661. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T98249468A98249661.en. Accessed on 07 March 2023.
  2. "Musella (Franch.) C.Y.Wu ex H.W.Li", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2019-01-19
  3. "Musella lasiocarpa (Franch.) C.Y.Wu ex H.W.Li". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  4. Musa lasiocarpa (the basionym of Ensete lasiocarpum) was originally described and published in Journal de Botanique (Morot) 3(20): 330–331, f. 1. 1889. "Name - Musa lasiocarpa Franch". Tropicos. MOBOT. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  5. "Musa lasiocarpa". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
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