Online Articles
about nature - by Boyd
Shaffer,
artist /naturalist
Observations
of a Naturalist
This Article: The Banana - How does it fruit?
|
Bananas
are well known but most people do not know
how they fruit. In the illustration the
banana stalk begins as a large purplish
bud composed of many overlaying bracts.
These bracts open one at a time exposing a
ring of flowers. After pollination the
young fruits begin to grow and the bud
extends a short distance and opens another
bract full of flowers. It can be seen in
the picture that this has occurred a
number of times. Notice that no fruit
appears near the bud? Birds or monkeys
have eaten off the newest young fruit on
this plant.
-End |