Wild Bananas

[FrankMi]

There is no such thing as a Banana Tree. Bananas actually grow on the world's largest herbaceous flowering plant. In other words it's a herb!

What appears to be a tree trunk is actually a stem and like many other herbs, the plant dies after producing fruit. But by the time the stalk dies, offshoots have developed at the base, the offshoots create a new stalk. Because of this, the plant as a whole is perennial. At full height this herb is typically about 16 feet tall.

Another fascinating fact is that bananas are naturally slightly radioactive, more so than most other fruits, because of their potassium content and the small amounts of the isotope potassium-40 found in naturally occurring potassium. The banana equivalent dose of radiation is sometimes used in nuclear communication to compare radiation levels and exposures!

Here is one that was growing wild in Costa Rica.



Enjoy!

[flashback]

Great shot. And of course, bananas on a granite counter top....the geiger counter is going to go crazy

[TonyW]

Very nice. I was thinking of posting a picture of our one hand of bananas growing next to our house but I can't now because both the bananas and the picture compare unfavourably with these.

[IzzieK]

Frank...this photo reminds me of my young-er days...very nostalgic.

[FrankMi]

I'm glad you like it Jack, Tony, and Isabel! Thank you all for the kind comments.

Tony, I'm sure you can find a great shooting angle and composition for your hand of bananas. Give it a shot, I'd love to see them!

I'm glad it brings you fond memories, Isabel.