Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Leopard Rock Golf Course, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Bridal Veil Falls, Chimanimani

Photo: Neil Crouch
Bridal Veil Falls, Chimanimani

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Ensete edule Horan. Musa ensete J.F. Gmel.
Common names:	Hovha (Shona) Wild banana (English)
Frequency:	Local and occasional
Status:	Native
Description:	Unmistakable, fleshy non-woody tree with fan-shaped crown of large leaves.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	ventricosum: ventricose, swelling or inflated on one side or unevenly
Habitat:	Along streams in evergreen forest and forested ravines.
Altitude range: (metres)	600 - 1400 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	From Cameroon and Ethiopia, south to Angola and Limpopo South Africa
Zimbabwe distribution:	C,E
Growth form(s):	Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 314. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 61. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 24. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 117. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 128. Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 21. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 233. Lock, J.M. (1993). Musaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 3 - 5. (Includes a picture). Lock, J.M. & Diniz, M.A. (2010). Musaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(4) Pages 105 - 107. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 93. Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 56 - 57. (Includes a picture). White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, J.D. (2001). Evergreen forest flora of Malawi Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Pages 103 - 104.

Other sources of information about Ensete ventricosum:

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Flora of Burundi: Ensete ventricosum
Flora of the DRC: Ensete ventricosum
Flora of Malawi: Ensete ventricosum
Flora of Mozambique: Ensete ventricosum
Flora of Rwanda: Ensete ventricosum
Flora of Zambia: Ensete ventricosum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Ensete ventricosum
African Plant Database: Ensete ventricosum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Ensete ventricosum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Ensete ventricosum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Ensete ventricosum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Ensete ventricosum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Ensete ventricosum
JSTOR Plant Science: Ensete ventricosum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Ensete ventricosum
Plants of the World Online: Ensete ventricosum
Tropicos: Ensete ventricosum
Wikipedia: Ensete ventricosum