The Banana tree is not actually a true tree; it is an herb in the genus Musa. Due to its tall size and structure, a Banana plant is however commonly referred to as a Banana tree. The Banana tree is cultivated in warm climates all over the world for its fruit and archaeological and palaeoenvironmental findings suggest that the banana tree have been cultivated by humans for at least 7000 years, possibly 10 000 years in Papua New Guinea.

The Banana tree originates from tropical environments in South-East Asia. The upright part of the Banana tree is very similar to the stem of a true tree and is an example of a so called pseudostem. The pseudostem of the Banana tree can grow up to 2-8 metres in height. (Different cultivars have different maximal heights.) From the pseudostem, large green leaves that can reach a size of 3.5 metres will grow.

Each pseudostem will produce one bunch of bananas and then die, and be rapidly replaced by new pseudostem. The rhizome base of the plant, from which the pseudstems grow, is called a corm. A corm is a swollen underground stem in which a plant can store energy that allows it to survive during harsh conditions, e.g. during a drought. The banana tree corm is perennial and can keep on producing pseudostems for 15 years or even longer. 



The elongated fruit produced by the banana tree is not a true fruit, it is a false berry. False berries are accessory fruits that distinguish themselves from true berries by having an inferior ovary. Other examples of false fruits are cucumbers, squashes, pumpkins, watermelons, blueberries and blackcurrants. The banana tree produces clusters of such false berries and one tier can contain up to 20 false fruits. A banana tier is also known as a banana hand. Each bunch will typically contain from 5 to 20 hands. One single banana tree bunch can weigh up to 50 kilograms.



As mentioned above, the leaves of the banana tree can grow up to 3.5 metres in length. Since they are not only large, but also strong, flexible and waterproof, they are used in many different ways in regions where the banana tree is common. One of the most well known ways of making use of the banana leaf is naturally as food wrap. Central American tamales are for instance often steamed inside banana leaves, and Chinese xongzi is sometimes prepared using banana leaves instead of bamboo leaves. The imu (underground oven) used in traditional Hawaiian Kalua cooking is often lined with banana leaves.



The flower of the banana tree is often referred to “banana heart” and “banana blossom”. In Indian and South-East Asian cuisine, this part of the banana tree is frequently used for soups and curries. It can also be eaten raw with dip sauces. Another part of the banana tree that is often used for human consumption is the banana trunk. In Bengali and Kerala in India, as well as in Burma, the tender core of the banana tree trunk is used to extract a juice. This juice is used as a traditional folk remedy against kidney stones.