69
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.
