Ensete
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At-A-Glance InformationThis genus produces fruits that are known as False Bananas or Ensets, which represent an economically important food crop in Ethiopia. The plants are native to Asia and Africa, and can grow to be quite large, forming large leaves that are often multicolored with shades of purple, red, and green.
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Ensete Species and Varietals
The genus Ensete is a member of the plant family Musaceae, and includes over 250 species.
Ensete glaucum (Snow Banana) These plants are typically cultivated as ornamentals in gardens in their native range (India, China, Nepal, Burma, Vietnam, and Thailand). It forms a bluish-green pseudostem and large leaves that can reach up to 6 feet long and 2 feet wide. Fruits are used to feed livestock, and are considered medicinal, fed to infants and sick patients in India. Flowering parts and young shoots are consumed as vegetables. |
Ensete perrieri (Madagascar Banana) This critically endangered species is native to Madagascar, threatened by deforestation and climate change. Trees reach between 16 and 20 feet tall, growing from a pseudostem of rolled up leaves. Because of the fruit's large seeds, it is a bit unpalatable to consume, but the species is used to study disease resistance for improving cultivated Bananas. |
Ensete ventricosum (Enset, Ensete, Ethiopian Banana, Abyssinian Banana, Pseudo-Banana, False Banana, Wild Banana) This species is cultivated in Ethiopia, where it is considered a staple food. It forms a non-woody large plant, the largest recorded at 42 feet tall. A stout pseudostem forms from leaf bases that are tightly overlapped. Flowers bloom on inflorescences that can reach up to 10 feet long. The portion of the plant that is cultivated is the root, each providing about 88 pounds of food when harvested from a 4-5 year old plant. The heart of the plant that is tender is cooked and eaten as a vegetable, as well. |
Caring for Ensete
Harvesting Ensete
Propagation
Problems and Pests
Horseradish plants are typically pest and disease free. For more information on common garden problems, including how to correct them, see the following links.
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