Root to Leaves All the Parts of Banana Tree

Banana has always been at the top of people’s favorite food list. Yes, because our ancestors were monkeys(haha). Anyway, seems like you want to learn about the parts of banana trees. Your browser landed on the right station, we have sorted out everything for you, about the components of a banana tree. 

From seeds to becoming a fully grown-up tree, a banana plant’s life cycle can be measured in three different sections. First rhizome to leaf, second stem to flower, and last flower to fruit. In that life span, a banana plant grows many parts, such as pseudostem, leaves, inflorescence, fruits, rhizomes, etc. 

Below we are going to discuss all the parts of a banana tree. So, shall we begin? 

Parts of Banana Tree

If we examine a banana tree, we will see there are eight different parts. Noted a thing, that a banana is not a tree, it’s a plant. A Banana is basically a giant herbaceous plant. It has an apparent trunk which makes it looks like a tree, it bends, and it doesn’t break. What we call a banana a tree, is actually a perennial herb and it can grow up to 20 feet. There is no wood tissue in the banana plant. The build-up with pseudostem(we will learn about it below.)

So, here are the elements a structure of a banana plant holds. 

• Root Systems
• Stem 
• Banana Leaves 
• Pseudostem
• Inflorescence 
• Flower 
• Fruits

1. Root Systems 

Root systems are the most significant parts of the banana tree. Its job is to supply water and all the necessary nutrition to the whole planet. Banana root systems are based on two core systems- primary and secondary roots. 

All the root functions of the plant stay under the soil. The main root is known as the rhizome. All other particles of the root originated from here. 

The anatomy of the banana tree shows the root mostly stays close to the ground level. It can grow nearly 3 feet in length. However, in well-drained soil, the banana plant roots can reach up to 5 feet. 

A banana plant is mostly 16 feet tall; some varieties kind can grow up to 23-25 feet. Well, to that enormous tree, it needs a lot of food and water. Because of having fibrous roots, the banana plant can absorb a massive quantity of water and nutrition from the soil. In search of nutrition, the roots can spread out quite far and can cause a threat to other plants’ collecting process.

2. Banana Stem 

The banana stem is a vegetable harvested and placed in the starchy inner core of banana pseudostems. Stem appeared in thick, straight, and cylindrical shapes. The size of it varies, depending on how it was cut. The stem appeared with its outer husks intact, showcasing a sheath soft, semi-smooth, or hard and which is inedible, and difficult to detach. 

What the stem mainly does is transfer materials from the root to the flower and all other parts of the banana tree. There is another kind of stem, which we call modification of stem. Modification of stem-stored food for the plant supports the plant and helped it to grow. 

Types of Banana Stem 

There are multiple types of banana stem variations exist. Let’s see. 

• Rhizome 

The rhizome is considered to be the main true steam of the plant. The rhizome is a stem modification that extends in the lateral direction. It has many nodes so you can cut the part and grow a new plant from this. 

Its main job is to provide support to the plant from root systems. It also helps the plant to produce clonal varieties. 

• Suckers 

Next comes the suckers stem modification. The suckers developed from the root level and it’s the extended version of the rhizome. Suckers is usually a clone of the plant that grows into a banana plant. 

The banana plant produces its fruit and then dies, after that another sucker replaces it and makes a new banana plant to grow fruits. 

The suckers are separated into two categories. Water sucker which is a small banana plant and another one is sword sucker which has narrow leaves and large rhizomes. 

• Stolon 

The stolon stem is also known as the runner stem, its very fragile and founds in the ground level. It helps plants to develop their root systems and helped to grow another identical plant.

• Corm 

Corm is a stem modification element of the banana tree. Its primary responsibility is to store foods for the plant. It also plays a role in developing the root systems and supporting the plant body. The corms are shaped in bulbs forms. 

Nutritional Value 

After banana pods are harvested, the banana stem is cut off, and the inner soft part is used as food. It has huge medicinal properties. The stem is a great source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract, potassium to the body and balance the fluid level. 

It contains vitamin C, which makes our immune system strong. The stem supplies iron to our body to develop the hemoglobin protein. The banana stem is a very common food in South Asia; they eat it as vegetables with rice. 

Application 

Each banana stem is formed with typically two layers. Before using the banana stem, you must remove the outer layers. It tasted like mild, vegetal, and sweet-tart flavors. You can cook it or even consume it raw. 

In Thailand, people eat banana stems with soups, curries, and stir-fries. In Burma, stems are eaten with a traditional fish soup cooked with mohina. 

Banana stem has various other uses too. It has huge uses in decorating floral arrangements. People use it to make rafts which is extremely helpful for swimmers. Overall, the stem is a long and flexible plant, so you can easily give them any shape you want. 

3. Banana Leaves 

The banana leaves are usually large in size, they grow 30 to 50 centimeters in width and extent up to two meters in length. A banana tree has approximately 8 to 12 leaves, and the leaves of the tree are broad, flat, and cylindrical. 

The front of the banana leaves has a dark green, smooth, waxy, and glossy surface. And the bottom side of the leaves holds a more muted, pale green hue. 

The banana leaves are normally very vulnerable, they get torn apart very easily because there are no branching veins in the leaves. The leaves have a midrib on each side which creates two laminas and makes the leaf waterproof. 

Nutritional Value 

Banana leaves have very high fiber content so it’s very hard to digest. The leaves are not edible for consumption. However, banana leaves are often used in juices, tea, and various tinctures. This creat antibiotics in the body to prevent colds, heat stroke, and coughs.

The banana leaves helped to reduce skin diseases. It is mixed with coconut trees and then placed over the wounded skin. The leaves work amazingly against irritation and inflammation.

Application 

Banana leaves can’t be eaten, but it’s used to wrap and serve foods in many cultures and traditions. Because of its medicinal and flexible quality in most South Indian festivals, they use banana leaves instead of plates. 

One of the popular use of banana leaves is wrapping food and then grilling, steaming, or deep-frying it. After wrapping, you can use various methods to cook the food. One of the great examples is Hilsha Bhapa. 

In South Asia, they prepare nasi lemak with banana leaves. In Malaysia, a rice dish is served with banana leaves flavored. In Indonesia, they cook flattened rice cake with it. Outside of India’s continent, Polynesia uses banana leaves to wrap roasted meat even the whole pig. 

4. Pseudostem

Pseudostem is called the trunk of the banana plant. The pseudostem trunk formed itself with the overlapping pack of the tight leaf sheath. The pseudostem is quite hard and sturdy, it can bear up to 50/60 kg bunch of weights even though the body is made of mostly water. 

The spiral assemblage of the plant is made up of up to 25 leaf sheaths. With the growth of the pseudostem, the leaves started to emerge one after another and reach their maximum height. It continues growing until the inflorescence reaches the top of the plant. 

5. Inflorescence 

In botanical terms, the inflorescence is Thyrsus. Banana plant inflorescence has a complex structure, it’s showed up before the flower turns itself into the flower. It’s made up of branched spadix. When the rhizome parts of the banana tree grow at its terminal point, inflorescence starts to show up on the planet. It grows through the pseudostem and emerges at the top of the plant until the last cigarette leaf has sprouted.

6. Flowers 

Flowers of the banana tree remain in the bracts closet. They are arranged in biseriate order, and in per nod, there are commonly 12 to 20 flowers born. These flowers are protected by bracts called spathes. The bracts look brightly colored, spirally arranged, and boat-shaped, and they are large in size. 

When the flowers of the banana tree are fully opened, the spathes roll back and fall off at a time. In the same plant, many times of banana flowers appeared. Here polygamous, i.e., staminate flowers, pistillate flowers, and bisexual flowers, arrived. 

The male flowers remain on the upper side of the bracts. And the female flowers stand on the lower side of the bracts. The middle place of the banana plant bracts holds its bisexual flowers. 

The basal flower of the banana plant function as the pistillate flower. The terminal flowers operate as the staminate of the fruits. The lower end of the flower formed a bulbous male bud. Generally, the axis beyond the female flowers phase is bare. However, in a few cases, the cultivars, flowers, and bracts are retained. 

Nutritional Value 

The banana flower is a great source to gain potassium. It balances the fluid level of our body, phosphorus, and calcium, and helps to build strong teeth and bones. We get iron supply from the flowers, which develop the protein hemoglobin, which helps to transport oxygen throughout the bloodstream. 

The banana flowers also provide us with vitamins A and C to strengthen our immune system. It reduces inflammation and supports maintaining healthy organ functioning in our body. Furthermore, the flower supplies us with copper to develop connective tissues and lower amounts of magnesium, vitamin E, and fiber to regulate the digestive tract.

Application 

Flower parts of the banana tree taste like subtly bitter and have a fruity flavor. It has a starchy and fibrous consistency. The dark hue outer bracts part is not suitable for consumption; they are used as decorative serving vessels. 

After removing all the bracts, the small florets can easily be separated from the tough stamens. When the flowers start to give yellow-white color, they can be sliced into pieces and used for cooking. 

Banana flowers are served with fresh fruits and used as green salads. The younger flowers are tasted sweet than grown-up flowers. The flowers are also cooked like fish fillets, fried into patties, sauteed into vegetable, rice, and noodle dishes, and soaked in flavoring. 

7. Fruits 

The edible fruit parts of banana trees are developed by the vegetative parthenocarpy. The ovary of banana fruits developed into a mass of edible pulp. It grows without fertilization and doesn’t even require the stimulus of pollination. So, you see, the fruits of the banana plant are seedless. 

The group of banana fruits is called a bunch or cluster. Each of the different clusters is identified as a hand, and the individual fruit is called a finger. The banana fruit has a leathery epicarp, and it is berry. It’s a fleshy endocarp and slightly fibrous mesocarp. 

Nutritional Value 

Banana fruits have huge nutritional value; it’s soluble and insoluble fibers help to improve digestion. The soluble fibers reduce cholesterol levels and control the blood sugar level in our bodies. It guards the stomach against the attack of unfriendly bacteria that causes gastrointestinal disturbances. 

The presence of rich potassium, minerals, and electrolytes nutrition helps the heart to maintain a good condition. It supports the cardiovascular system against high blood pressure issues. After working out, we feel recurrent soreness in mussels cause of the lack of magnesium. A banana helps to muscle contraction and relaxation, which increases lean muscle mass.  

Conclusion 

We have discussed all the parts of the banana tree, from the underground root systems to its giving birth of fruits. Hope, your curious mind about the banana plant is now satisfied. If there is anything else you wanna know about then let us know in the comment section, and we will return to you with more interesting facts.