Musa ingens

The plant species Musa ingens is the physically largest member of the family Musaceae. Growing in the tropical montane forests of New Guinea - Arfak Mountains Regency - Indonesia, its leaves can reach a length of 5 meters (16 feet) and a width of 1 m (39 inches).[1][2] The "trunk" (actually the tightly rolled petioles (or stalks) of its leaves; the longest petioles of any known plant) is typically up to 15 meters (49 feet) in height, and with the leaves having a total height of 20 meters (66 feet). However, since its discovery in 1954 taller individuals up to thirty meters (98 feet) have been reported,[3] but these measurements have yet to be confirmed by a specific scientific study. Photos exist of M. ingens "trunks" up to 94 centimetres (37 in) in diameter at breast height.[4] Its fruit, in a cluster weighing up to 60 kg (132 lbs), is inedible. This cluster is borne on a peduncle up to 10 cm (4 in) thick and up to 15 m (49 ft) in length, again the longest of any known plant.

Musa ingens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Monocots
(unranked):
Commelinids
Order:
Zingiberales
Family:
Musaceae
Genus:
Musa
Species:
M. ingens
Binomial name
Musa ingens
N.W.Simmonds

References
  1. N.W. Simmonds, "Notes on Banana Taxonomy" KEW BULLETIN Vol. 14 # 2 (1960) p. 198.
  2. Notes from Royal Bot. Garden Edinburgh Vol. 35 # 1 (1976) pp. 111-112
  3. http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Musa_Ingens
  4. http://www.thestatworld.com/2015/12/musa-ingens-the-tallest-banana-plant-in-the-world.html


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