BANANA, bit-niiqa (Sp. the fruit of the tree hunano). A name applied alike to the well known fruit and to the plant which bears it. The specific name, .11usa sapientium, signifies `muse of the wise,' and is intended to convey an al lusion to a statement by Theoploustus concerning a fruit which served as food for the wise men of India, and which. from his description, is sup posed to have been the plantain or banana. The names plantain and banana are somewhat vaguely used in their application to different cul tivated varieties. The banana is a tropical plant grown for its fruit, fibre, and the beauty of its foliage. It is evidently of Indian origin. but is now extensively cultivated in all tropical comp tries of the world. It is a large herbaceous plant with a perennial root or rhizome, from which the plant is perpetuated by sprouts or stickers. The young plants may be transplanted after attaining a height of 3 feet, by cutting them loose with a spade; such plants should be set deeply in rows S to 12 feet apart, so that the broad leaves will shade the ground. It can be increased by root-cuttings planted shallow and covered with peat or peaty compost. Young plants of this sort must be transplanted to full light, and be given ample room as soon as two or three leaves have formed. The banana begins to bloom in 1U. to 2 years after being established. The flower-bud is a peculiar, large heart-shaped formation which. on developing, exposes a true
flower under each of its scales. From 50 to 150 of these may be developed in a single bud, from which a bunch containing as many bananas will develop. The plant grows from 10 to 40 feet in height and carries a whorl of broad orna mental leaves at the top of the stalk. A stalk bears but once, dies down, and is replaced by sprouts, 2 or 3 of which are allowed to bear.
The species grown for their fibre, as well as those grown for ornament, usually produce seed, while the edible banana of commerce is seedless. Those which bear seeds are usually propagated by seeds, as it is more economical. Dwarf sorts are chiefly used for ornamental planting and landscape effect.
There are many varieties of the banana, but the variety most commonly grown is the Mar tinique, a large yellow fruit growing in large dense clusters. The baracoa, or Red Jamaica, is now but sparingly grown as compared with a few years ago, and is seldom exported.
The consumption of bananas in the United States alone has developed from a few hundred bunches, in 1870. to $5.600,000 worth, in 1899. The fruit comes chiefly from the West Indies and Central America, although some is produced in Florida, Louisiana. and California. Banana flour is rapidly becoming a staple article of com merce. See also PLANTAIN. For illustration, see BREADFRUIT TREE.