Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: neilep on 08/12/2008 19:06:51

Title: How Do Banana Plants Move?
Post by: neilep on 08/12/2008 19:06:51
Dearest Luffley Peeps,

Bananas are my all time favourite yellow arc shaped flesh filled fruit.

Looks , here's a banana tree !..nice eh ?...I actually spent a few weeks working with these wonderful plants !...which was nice !

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I have heard that over time the plant/tree itself will move a meter or two...it will actually travel !

Why's that then ?..and how does it do it ?

As a firm believer in empirical study I have placed a banana in a plant pot.....Five whole minutes have passed and there is no sign of movement !!  [???]

Can ewe please confirm that banana plants do actually move ? ie..travel a few feet (I don't mean sway in the wind  [::)])



Thank Ewe




mwah mwah mwah



Neil
Baaaaanana Luffer
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Re: How Do Banana Plants Move?
Post by: Carolyn on 08/12/2008 20:01:45
I saw something on TV a few months ago about this.  Oh...I can't remember everything they said, but they did call the tree the "walking tree".

I believe they said the roots are very shallow, growing close to or even above ground and most of the roots grow on one side and tend to move toward the sunlight, which makes the tree walk.


Oohhh and I may be wrong, but I think they also said that the banana tree is not actually a tree.  I swear they said it was an herb...but I must be remembering wrong.

Anyway..hopefully someone who actually knows and isn't guessing will answer soon.
Title: Re: How Do Banana Plants Move?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 08/12/2008 20:30:37
It is indeed a herb; a herb crossed with a triffid. That's how they can move  [:P]

By the way - did you know that bananas are berries?
Title: Re: How Do Banana Plants Move?
Post by: JimBob on 09/12/2008 02:26:40
Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 08/12/2008 20:30:37
It is indeed a herb; a herb crossed with a triffid. That's how they can move  [:P]

By the way - did you know that bananas are berries?


My Doc, you do find Wikipedia very useful, don't you?
Title: Re: How Do Banana Plants Move?
Post by: blakestyger on 09/12/2008 09:25:39
The bananas we buy to eat are all cultivars and sterile hybrids.

The wild types are sometimes pink and only about 3 cms long. [:0]
Title: Re: How Do Banana Plants Move?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 09/12/2008 11:42:30
Quote from: JimBob on 09/12/2008 02:26:40
Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 08/12/2008 20:30:37
It is indeed a herb; a herb crossed with a triffid. That's how they can move  [:P]

By the way - did you know that bananas are berries?


My Doc, you do find Wikipedia very useful, don't you?

QI, actually, old chap.
Title: Re: How Do Banana Plants Move?
Post by: LeeE on 10/12/2008 00:08:16
They shed a couple of banana skins and slide on them.
Title: Re: How Do Banana Plants Move?
Post by: Don_1 on 10/12/2008 11:59:03
There has been a banana tree in the greenhouse at Hall Place, Bexley for as many years as I can remember. I don't think it has ever been for a walk around the gardens.
Title: Re: How Do Banana Plants Move?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 10/12/2008 12:01:10
Maybe it sneaks out at night when no-one's looking.
Title: Re: How Do Banana Plants Move?
Post by: Asyncritus on 31/12/2008 11:59:15
I came to a railway crossing in Jamaica once that had a sign up saying:

SLOW BANANA CROSSING.