Musa balbisiana var. liukiuensis Information
General Information:
This is the proper Japanese Fibre Banana, 'Musa balbisiana var. liukiuensis' from northern Okinawa, Japan, where it has been used in the production of cloth for centuries.
A very common and widespread species in the low hills of Taiwan at 200 m elevation (not higher or lower). Possibly introduced to Taiwan from the Ryukyu Islands of Japan during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945) or before that time.
The smallish fruits of this banana ripen to yellow, and the fruit is delicious to eat as a dessert banana though this fruit is full of hard black seeds.
Distribution:
Native to, Japan
Cultivated in Okinawa, Japan since at least the 13th century. Probably introduced to Taiwan prior to the Japanese occupation.
Location: Okinawa, Ryukyu, Japan. (23.600864°N, 120.621643°E)