Banana

A banana is the fruit produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus Musa. In some countries of the Americas and Oceania, several plants called "bananas" are generally known as plantains, distinguishing them from the fruits called "bananas". The fruit is variable in size, color, and firmness, but is usually elongated and curved, with soft flesh rich in starches covered with a rind, which may be green, yellow, red, purple, or brown when ripe. The fruits grow in clusters hanging from the top of the plant. Almost all modern edible seedless (parthenocarp) bananas come from two wild species – Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana (AAB in the Triploid hybrid origin). The genus Musa is classified under the family Musaceae, order Zingiberales. In Hebrew, the word for banana is בַּנָּנָה (banana). In Spanish, it is plátano or banana, in French banane, in German Banane, in Italian banana, and in Portuguese banana. Bananas are widely cultivated in tropical regions and are a staple starch food in many countries. They are usually eaten raw, although some firm ornamental bananas can be fried or baked in their unripe form. Bananas are known for their high potassium content, and they also contain vitamin B6, vitamin C, and magnesium.