Kingdom Plantae Family Musaceae Scientific name Musa maclayi Rank Species | Order Zingiberales Genus Musa Higher classification Banana | |
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Musa maclayi is a species of seeded banana native to Papua New Guinea and possibly the Solomon Islands. It is placed in section Callimusa (now including the former section Australimusa). It is regarded as one of the progenitors of the Fe'i banana cultivars.
The plant has red sap and an upright flowering and fruiting stem. The fruits are rounded and arranged closely together in bunches – partly joined along their edges in some varieties.
The species was named after the explorer and naturalist Nicholas Miklouho-Maclay, who first described it:
"Besides the cultivated varieties, which have been obtained by exchange between the villages, there is to be found in the forest a wild Banana (Musa Maclayi F. v. M.), compared to the cultivated varieties, with a tall stem (nearly twice as tall), with narrow stiff leaves and small (not edible) fruits full of seeds."
Subspecies
Two subspecies and two varieties are known: