Gardener on Philipkutty’s Farm in the backwaters, Kumarakom, Kerala, holding up a Banana 'tree' inflorescence.
Banana Flowers: The banana inflorescence shooting out from the heart in the tip of the stem, is at first a large, long-oval, tapering, purple-clad bud. As it opens, the slim, nectar-rich, tubular, toothed, white flowers appear. They are clustered in whorled double rows along the the floral stalk, each cluster covered by a thick, waxy, hood like bract, purple outside and deep red within. The flowers occupying the first 5 - 15 rows are female. As the rachis of the inflorescence continues to elongate, sterile flowers with abortive male and female parts appear, followed by normal staminate ones with abortive ovaries. The two latter flower types eventually drop in most edible bananas.
Size: 2392px × 3601px
Location: Philipkutty’s Farm Backwaters, Kumarakom, Kerala.
Photo credit: © Gary Blake / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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