Banana “trees” are not actually trees, but herbaceous plants in the genus Musa. Due to their size, shape and structure, they are often mistaken for trees. Bananas are largely cultivated for their fruit, but also used as an ornamental plant in gardens.

There are two types of bananas that are cultivated mainly in tropical regions. There is the sweet fruit that is eaten raw or used in dessert recipes, and the firmer, starchier plantains used in cooking vegetable-based dishes like curries.

Banana plants were first cultivated for domestic use in Southeast Asia, possibly as early as 8000 BC. Wild bananas still grow in Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. They were first mentioned in Buddhist texts in 600 BC, and in 327 BC were discovered in India by Alexander the Great. The banana was later brought to the Middle East by Islamic conquerors, and exposed to Africa by Arab merchants. After that, banana cultivation exploded in most of the rest of the world thanks largely to Portuguese colonists who started banana plantations in the Atlantic Islands, Brazil and western Africa. Unfortunately for the Europeans, bananas were not heard of in Europe until the Victorian era and even then, only through merchant trade. These days, bananas can be found in practically every market in the world!

Growing banana plants is relatively simple if the right combination of factors is present. It takes about nine months for the plant to become mature, and it requires a lot of care to reach its full potential. The soil has to be nutrient-rich and slightly acidic. It should also be able to retain moisture, but not much as roots that are filled with water will die very quickly. While it is growing, it requires daily watering, a balanced fertilizer and a temperature of approximately 80°F during the day. The banana plant is found in abundance in the tropics because it thrives on high levels of sunlight and humidity.

Bananas grow from stems called rhizomes which grow from the ground up. The upright plant is called a pseudostem, and when it matures, can reach as high as 25 feet, with leaves up to 10 feet in length. Interestingly, each pseudostem produces only a single bunch of bananas. It then dies and is replaced by a new pseudostem. Generally, the banana plant lives up to 25 years.

When all the right factors are present, the banana plant grows very quickly and it is a pleasure to watch mature. Not only does it bear fruit, it is also a beautiful ornamental plant that stands out in any tropical landscape.

For further information and recipes from Safiah Ashedoff, visit www.Banana-Dessert-Recipes.com.