Ensete

Ensete superbum

The genus Ensete from the banana family ( Musaceae ) is widespread with about ten species in Africa and Asia. Because of their importance for fiber production is the kind Ensete ventricosum, the ornamental banana, also known as Abyssinian banana fiber. The Ensete plants do not bear edible fruit.

Description

The Ensete species are herbaceous, hapaxanthe plants. They form a false trunk from the closely spaced leaf bases, the apparent strain is often thickened considerably at its base. The leaf consists of a petiole continues to elongate leaf blade.

The inflorescence consists of many green, usually long adhering bracts. They are first tight rosette to each other, during the heyday of the inflorescence stretched out and hangs over. Are female or hermaphrodite flowers, earlier all-male at the base of the inflorescence. The individual flower consists of two tepals: one has grown together from five petals, very narrow and at the top often tridentate, the other petal is usually wider. The fruit is a leathery, fairly dry berry.

Dissemination

Most Ensete species occur in Africa, some in Asia. The main distribution area of Ensete ventricosum is the highlands of southern Ethiopia.

Use

Especially Ensete ventricosum is used variously in Ethiopia. Typical is the Ensetekultivierung mainly for the following ethnic groups: Gurage, Hadiyya, Silt'e, Sidaama, Wolaytta, Kambaata, Aari and Käfa. Is used almost every part of the plant. To feed the strength obtained from the pseudostem and its thickened base is used. Pseudo - stem and leaf ribs provide fibers for making ropes, mats, bags.

System

Worldwide, there are about ten species, which can be classified according to their origin: