What is Butoan Banana (Saging na maraming buto)

Have you already seen one kind of banana which has many seeds on them? For newer generations, they may not see this kind of banana growing due to its decreased species.  Most agricultural lands nowadays are already converted for housing use due to increased in population; in return some plants (including this species of banana) are chopped down.

We call it Butoan (from the word “Buto” means “Seed”). Butoan is a wild banana plant, growing to a height of 3 to 3.8 meters, sending out suckers from the base. False trunk is erect and cylindric, which is 20 to 30 cm in diameter.

Its Leaves are elliptic in shape, the mature blades about 1.5 to 2 meters long and 40 to 50 cm wide. Petioles grow to a length of 50 to 65 centimeters. Female fertile flowers appear toward the base, while the sterile staminate flowers appear toward the apex.

Its Fruits are oblong, somewhat angled, its length is about 15 cm long, and the width is about 4 to 5 cm in diameter. Pulp is white, insipid or sour in taste. If you will notice, its seeds are hard and black.