Musa Paradisiaca, the botanical name for plantain is an herbaceous perennial belonging to the family Musaceae. Plantains are believed to have originated in Southeast Asia. The leaves are broad with a pronounced central midrib and obvious veins. They can reach up to 2.7m (8.9ft) in length and up to 0.6m (2.0ft) in width. After harvest, the parent plant dies and is replaced with a daughter plant.
Uses
Plantains are eddibles and are cooked prior to consumption. The leaves can be used as a source of fibre for thread and can be used as thatch and roofing. In addition, It is used as an effective source of shades for other crops.