Musa nanensis: New Species of Wild Banana Discovered in Thailand

The newly-discovered species belongs to Musa, a large genus in the familyMusaceae containing more than 70 species of bananas and plantains.

The species’ scientific name – Musa nanensis – honors the Thai northern province of Nan, where the type specimens of this new species were collected. The common name is the Kluai Si Nan (means ‘banana pride of Nan’).

According to Dr Sasivimon Swangpol of Mahidol University and her colleagues,Musa nanensis is a perennial herb, 4.9 to 9.8 feet (1.5 to 3 m) in height. Its flowering time is year round.

Fruits are 2.8 inches (7 cm) long and 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) wide. They are straight to curved, angular with prominent ridges at maturity.READ MORE-http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science-musa-nanensis-wild-banana-thailand-03349.html