Silk banana

Latundan banana (also called tundan, silk banana, Pisang king sereh, manjana banana, or apple banana) is a triploid hybrid banana variety of the AAB “Pom” group in the Philippines. It is one of the most common banana varieties in Southeast Asia and the Philippines, including Lacatan and Saba bananas.

Latundan banana trees usually reach a height of 10 to 13 feet. They require full or partial sun exposure. The flowers are yellow, purple or ivory. The fruits have rounded tips with a thin yellow skin that split once fully ripe. These are smaller than the Lacatan variety and the commercially dominant Cavendish collar. They have a slightly acidic, apple-like smell.

In the old classification, the Latundan variety was once known as Musa sepientum. It has since been discovered that Musa sepientum is actually a hybrid of the wild seeded banana Musa Balbisiana and Musa Aquinata and not a species.

Latundan banana is a triploid (AAB) hybrid.

Its full name is Musa acuminata × M. balbisiana (AAB Group) ‘Silk’.

Latundan banana is a popular dessert banana. They are also cultivated as ornamental plants.

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