Musella lasiocarpa
| Chinese dwarf banana | |
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Scientific classification 
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| 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
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| Binomial name | |
| Musella lasiocarpa | |
| Synonyms[2][4] | |
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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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Musella (Franch.) C.Y.Wu ex H.W.Li", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2019-01-19
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Musa lasiocarpa". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 3 January 2021.