Cavendish Banana, Plantain

Musa acuminata Colla

MU-saw ah-kuum-ah-NAY-tah

Musaceae

Explanation of name:  An acuminate leaf tip is long-tapered.

Natural range: Malay Peninsula

Recognition: A highly variable species and hybrid parent, with many subspecies, cultivars and color variants.

Landscape uses:  Wild species not edible, but hybrid derivatives are.   All or almost all edible bananas have this species as a parent. 

'Siam Ruby', a locally popular cultivar (hybrid?),  stands 7' tall and has varied purple leaf markings as well as bright emerald leaf spots.

'Namwah Pearl' (hybrid?) has lime-green leaf coloration

Internet sources:

http://coolexotics.com/plant-375.html

http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week022.shtml

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/plants/musaceae/musa_acuminata.htm