A single banana is called a finger. A group of attached “fingers” make up a “hand” of bananas. Multiple hands that grow in a cluster are called a bunch or stalk – a bunch of bananas may contain 3 to 20 hands! A banana plant is actually a giant herbaceous flowering plant. The long, stout structure that holds the leaves and fruit is called a pseudostem (false stem).
The Zoo grows 24 different types of bananas. While we get some fruit off of them, we mostly grow them for the stalks and leaves, which we give to our primates and elephants to enjoy. Sometimes that means munching them, other times it means wearing one of the big leaves on their head!
About 14 days after the stem has emerged, the weight of the growing bananas causes the stem to hang upside down. At this stage, many farmers cover the fruit with a bag to help protect it from insects and sun damage. Farmers also support the plant by tying it to neighboring plants with twine. This helps prevent the plant from toppling over from the weight of the bananas.
Picture Credit : Google
