42
Ensete superbum (Roxb.)
Cheesman.
Synonym : Musa superba Roxb.
Family
: Musaceae
Local Names
: Kalluvazha, Malavazha
Flowering and fruiting period: Throughout the year
Distribution: Peninsular India
Habitat: Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests
IUCN status: Data Deficient
Endemic: Yes
Uses: Ayurvedic, ornamental
Key Characters: Erect herbs with globose leafsheaths formed
into a pseudostem. Leaves spirally arranged, oblong, entire with channelled
midrib. Spadix with 3-5 spathes at base; bracts several. Flowers many on each
bracts; unisexual, female flowers towards the base and male flowers above.
Septemberals and 2 petals united into a sheath, 5-lobed; third petals forms
into a membranous sheath. Stamens 5, perfect. Ovary 3-celled, inferior. Fruit
oblong; seeds few, black.
