True plantains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plantain subgroup |
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Plantains for sale
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| Genus | Musa |
| Species | Musa × paradisiaca |
| Hybrid parentage | M. acuminata × M. balbisiana |
| Cultivar group | AAB Group, Plantain subgroup |
| Origin | Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Africa |
Plantains are a special type of banana that people usually cook before eating. Unlike the sweet bananas you might enjoy raw, plantains are often used in savory dishes. They are a very important food source in many parts of the world, especially in Africa. Plantains belong to a large family of plants called Musa.
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What Are Plantains?
Plantains are part of a specific group of bananas known as the AAB chromosome group. While the term "plantain" can sometimes mean any banana that needs cooking, "true" plantains are the most popular varieties within this AAB group. They are different from other cooking bananas, like those found in the Pacific. In Africa, people often cook both types of bananas, so they don't always make a big difference between them.
Different Kinds of Plantains
"True" plantains are sorted into four main groups based on how their bunches of fruit look. Each group has its own unique types of plantains.
French Plantains
These plantains have a specific way their fruit bunches grow. Some examples include:
- 'Obino l'Ewai' from Nigeria
- 'Nendran' from India
- 'Dominico' from Colombia
French Horn Plantains
This group has bunches that look a bit like a horn. You might find types like:
- 'Batard' from Cameroon
- 'Mbang Okon' from Nigeria
False Horn Plantains
These plantains also have horn-like bunches, but they are slightly different from the French Horn types. Examples include:
- 'Agbagba' and 'Orishele' from Nigeria
- 'Dominico-Harton' from Colombia
Horn Plantains
The bunches of these plantains are very distinct and shaped like a horn. Some types are:
- 'Ishitim' from Nigeria
- 'Pisang Tandok' from Malaysia
Learning About Plantains
In the 1990s, a group called the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) created helpful guides. These guides were made to assist scientists and farmers in West Africa with identifying and growing plantains. They included pictures of different plantain types and diagrams of how the plantain flowers and fruit bunches grow.
