Rhino Horn banana

*Musa* 'African Rhino Horn'
Musa 'African Rhino Horn'
Hybrid parentage	Musa acuminata × Musa balbisiana
Cultivar group	AAB Group (Plantain Group)
Cultivar	'African Rhino Horn'
Origin	Africa

Rhino Horn bananas, also called Rhino Horn plantains or African Rhino Horn, are hybrid banana cultivars from Africa. It produces strongly curved and elongated edible bananas which can grow to a length of two feet, the longest fruits among banana cultivars.

Taxonomy

The Rhino Horn banana is a triploid (AAB Group, commonly known as Horn plantains) hybrid of the seeded banana Musa balbisiana and Musa acuminata.

Its official designation is Musa acuminata × balbisiana (AAB Group) 'African Rhino Horn'.

Description

Rhino Horn banana plants can grow to a height of 12 to 20 feet.^[1]^[2] The pseudostem and leaves are dappled red.

Rhino Horn bananas have the longest fruits among banana cultivars, reaching up to 2 feet in length,^[2] though they normally only reach lengths of 12 to 14 inches. They produce two to four hands per bunch.^[3]

Uses

Fruits of the Rhino Horn bananas can be eaten raw or cooked. They are also cultivated as ornamental plants for their attractive coloration.^[2]

Pests and diseases

Common pests

Borers (Cosmopolites sordidus)
Grasshoppers
Root Nematodes (Radopholus similis)

Common diseases

Panama disease (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense)
Black Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis)

References

^ Tropical Fruit Information Archived 2010-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b ^c Musa 'African Rhino Horn'
^ Encanto Farms: Plantains

[1] Tropical Fruit Information Archived 2010-09-28 at the Wayback Machine

[banwiki-2] Musa 'African Rhino Horn'

[3] Encanto Farms: Plantains

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