Bananas and Plantains
A banana is an herbaceous tree-like plant which bears an elongated fruit. It comes in different sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, red and purple. Among the top banana-producing countries are India, Mexico, China, Ecuador, Brazil, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Asked in Trees, Bananas and Plantains
What are the parts of the banana tree?

banana tamod
A banana is not a tree, it is the largest flowering herbaceous
plant. The stems are called pseudostems and each stem can produce a
single bunch of bananas, After fruiting the stem dies and offshoots
develop from the root. Leaves are spirally arranged and may grow to
a height of 9 feet. The female flower develops the fruit
Asked in Waste and Recycling, Storage of Fruits and Vegetables, Biochemistry, Bananas and Plantains
What effect does a paper bag have on a banana?

Placing bananas in a paper bag or any other enclosed environment
will hasten the ripening process. This is due to the fact that, as
a banana ripens, it emits ethylene gas. Ethylene gas is essential
in the ripening process. If you place bananas in a bag, the gas
concentrates and the ripening process accelerates. Ethylene gas is
what banana importers use to accelerate the ripening of bananas
prior to sending them to market.
Asked in Bananas and Plantains
What is the nutritional value of unripe plantain?

A typical
average size plantain fruit after cooking contains 50 - 80grams of
carbohydrate, 2 - 3 grams of protein, 4 - 6 grams of fibre and
about 0.01 to 0.3grams of fat. Since every gram of carbohydrate
equals to 4 calories, one fruit of plantain contains about 4 x
65grams of calories, which comes to about 260 Calories.
Asked in Bananas and Plantains
Is a banana a berry?

Yes, the banana fruit is a berry. Berries are identified as
being many seeded with a fleshy inner layer. So, technically a
banana is a berry. And, believe it or not, bananas don't grow on
trees! Originally from Asia, the "banana tree" is really not a tree
in the true sense. In fact, banana plants have no wood fiber. The
banana plant is the world's largest herb and a member of the lily
family.
Asked in Bananas and Plantains
Why are bananas good for you?

Banana's are good for you because they are chock full of
potassium. Potassium plays an important role decreasing the risk of
high blood pressure and stroke, it increases strength and helps
reduce stress. Toss some in a blender with milk and yogurt for a
tasty, filling and nutritious snack and get your calcium in there
too!
Bananas contain considerable amounts of vitamin B6, vitamin C,
and potassium. The potassium makes them of particular interest to
athletes who use them to quickly replenish their electrolytes.
In India, juice is extracted from the corm and used as a home
remedy for jaundice, sometimes with the addition of honey, and for
kidney stones.
Banana's are also high in starch (carbohydrate). About 100 grams
of banana has about 90 calories.
It is because they have potassium in them that is good for you.
Asked in Nutritional Measurement, Bananas and Plantains
How many mg of potassium are in a banana?

A medium banana has about 422 mg of potassium.
A banana is a pretty good source of potassium. However it is not
sensational. It has about the same potassium content per calorie as
a potato.
While it's true that the average potato has roughly as much
potassium as a banana, boiling/mashing potatoes will remove a large
portion of that potassium. So homemade mashed potatoes aren't as
good of a source as, say, a baked potato is.