Blood banana

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Blood Banana

A typical young specimen

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Liliopsida
(unranked)	Commelinids
Order:	Zingiberales
Family:	Musaceae
Genus:	Musa
Species:	M. acuminata
Subspecies:	M. a. zebrina

Trinomial name

Musa acuminata ssp. zebrina
(L.B. van Houtte)^{[verification needed]}

Synonyms

Musa acuminata ssp. sumatrana (O. Beccari) N. W. Simmonds
Musa sumatrana (O. Beccari)
Musa sumatrana J.G. Baker
Musa sumatrana H.N. Ridley
Musa zebrina (L.B. van Houtte)^{[verification needed]}
and see text

The Blood Banana, also known as the Red Banana Tree, is a member of the genus Musa native to Sumatra, Indonesia. It is not the same plant as the red bananas which are sometimes seen on sale. The Blood Banana is an ornamental plant (though its small fruit are theoretically edible like any banana), named for the dark red patches on its leaves.

The taxonomy of this plant is highly confused. It is often considered a distinct species, particularly in horticulture, and the apparently obsolete name Musa sumatrana is very often applied. Its appearance can vary from plants with only a purplish tinge overall, to individuals that are almost covered by a deep reddish pattern. Therefore it was described several times by different authors under the same name, referring to different specimens. In effect, it seems that heterotypic synonyms were thus created each time.

However, the Blood Banana is probably a subspecies of the (diploid) Bananito or Apple Banana, Musa acuminata. Moreover, a bananito with red-patterned leaves was described as Musa zebrina even before the taxon Musa sumatrana was established. Consequently, although the issue is not finally settled, it appears as if the correct scientific name of the Blood Banana is Musa acuminata ssp. zebrina.

Erroneously, the names of blood banana cultivars (e.g. 'Sumatrana', 'Zebrina', 'Rubra' and 'Rojo') are also sometimes used as if they were specific epithets. This is not to be taken lightly; for example the true Musa rubra refers to another plant: It is an obsolete name for what appears to be an ornamental version of the red banana, a triploid bananito derivative just like the common yellow Cavendish banana.