MusaParadisiaca01

Note: These plants can be dangerous if improperly used. The author, and/or ernestartist.org assume no liability for experimentation of use.

Ernestartist.org assumes no liability for experimental use of medicinal plants, food plants or herbal remedies.

Bananas are not really a tree, but are a gigantic herb, being a member of the grass family, like wheat, rye and barley. The fibrous stems, trunks that may be as tall as 20 feet, are up to 8 inches in diameter and are made up of overlapping leaf bases (sheaths). A cross section of the succulent trunk looks like a huge onion slice. The leaves are spirally arranged, rising higher than the stems. Tightly rolled at first, they push their way outward, lubricated by a white waxy powder. The leaf stems become thick, with smooth large blades, usually 4 or more feet long and 1-2 feet wide. These are entire at first, appearing as large rounded blades. They soon split along parallel side veins to appear like a large feather.

After the plant reaches full growth, a flower cluster forces its way up through the compressed layers of the leaf sheaths that make up the trunk. The flowers are borne on a thick erect or drooping stem, issuing from the top of the trunk or at the center of the leaf cluster, commonly in flat groups under a large dark to light colored purple-red or green bract. Male flowers are at the stem tip, female flowers at the stem base. The calyx is tubular, soon splitting on one side. There is a corolla with one petal and approximately 6 stamen. The flowers set fruit without pollination and then drop their purple leathery petals one by one. It takes about a year for the plant to produce mature fruit. Each healthy banana plant bears 5 to 9 rows of bananas.

To harvest the fruit the entire trunk is cut down, often with one or two swipes of a machete. This can occur when the first bananas turn yellow, or earlier if the bananas are to be used for cooking, rather than eating while ripe. The trunk is then chopped up and placed as necessary mulch around the base of the clump. Before mulching, one might seek out the banana's heart, which is a round cylindrical white tube with a smooth shiny cover. This lies inside the layers of bark fiber. It can be cooked and is like celery, with a texture and taste similar to bamboo shoots.

Bananas are a good source of potassium and vitamin A, contain some vitamin B, and a fair amount of vitamin C. They are a fair source of phosphorus and contain some calcium and iron.

Leaves are cut for house roofs, umbrellas and rain hats, food wraps, bowl covers, table cloths and temporary mats, cigarette papers, clothing and temporary sandals, dyes, packing material, cattle feed, and as covering for the earth oven. Leaf buds are employed as a vegetable. Trunks are used to burn and create steam in the cooking process.

Medicinally, the ripe fruit of banana is used for asthma. Boiled ripe banana fruit can be mashed and taken for constipation, especially when mixed with other recommended plants. There are antibiotic properties in the inside of the peel that are said to be effective against bacteria. Wrap the peel, inside out, around a cut or wound in an emergency.

In the 1970's, bananas were smoked as a cigarette, (in the USA) and it was said to have an effect like marijuana, putting the mind in a state of temporary euphoria. I have tried it, and I certainly didn't feel anything like Donovan mentioned in his 'Mellow Yellow' song.

In Suriname's traditional medicine, the red protecting leaves of the bud are used against heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia). Other applications are against: diarrhea, dysentery, migraine, hypertension and jaundice.