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Musella lasiocarpa

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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[3]
Species:
M. lasiocarpa
Binomial name
Musella lasiocarpa
(Franch.) C.Y.Wu ex H.W.Li[2]
Synonyms[2][4]

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.[3] It is thus a close relative of bananas, and also a member of the family Musaceae.

Distribution and habitat

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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

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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

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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.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Plummer, J.; Allen, R.; Kallow, S. (2022). "Musella lasiocarpa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T98249468A98249661. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T98249468A98249661.en.
  2. ^ a b "Musella lasiocarpa (Franch.) C.Y.Wu ex H.W.Li". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  3. ^ a b "Musella (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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