Papua has so many things that make it one of the world famous regions. Its rich culture and nature make Papua more exciting to visit. Especially how nature is still preserved in the modern and technological era.
That is why it wouldn’t be strange if papua has so many excotic, some even strange, plants that are still thriving. Even researchers said some of those are from the prehistoric era. One of the most famous plants from Papua is Musa ingens or the biggest banana species in the world. Locals call them ndowin or apit sepoh.
Origin and Characteristic
Researchers believe that this banana tree species is an endemic plant from West Papua, which means that no other region in the world has the same species. It only appears growing in the Arfak mountain range, West Papua, at 1.500 to 2.000 meters above sea level.
It has the characteristics of genuine bananas before genetic mutation. The trees can grow in diameter up to a meter. But, some research shows that it also can grow to 2 meters at best. It also can grow up to 20 meters in height. The leaves can rise to the length of 5 meters and 1 meter wide.
The fruit-bunch can weigh up to 60 kilograms and 70-80 in length. One fruit can grow to 20 cm in length, making it the most significant banana fruit globally.
Like any other wild banana plant, Musa ingen fruit bears seed in its fruit. Because the plant has no buds that usually surround a banana’s tree, the seed becomes its way to breed and multiply. The seed spreads to the surrounding area with the help of the bird that eats its fruit.
The other variant of this species is Musa arfakiana argent. The physical characteristics are the same as Musa ingen for the most part. But it also has a unique trait that is more unique.
Image source : https://d3i71xaburhd42.cloudfront.net/5263447a16d2f5c743d38f006101f14dde96b2c7/2-Figure2-1.png
If other banana’s fruit-bunch pointed downward, this species’ fruit-buds pointed upward. That was also the reason why some people named this species the anti-gravity banana. This species also only can be found in the Arfak mountain range.
Musa Ingen and People of Papua
Image source : https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nMZ0530kU9A/maxresdefault.jpg
Because of its overwhelming heights, locals don’t consume this banana regularly. Besides the seeds that are pretty troublesome for consumption, the fruit’s taste is not as good as other banana species. Almost tasteless and has no sweet scent like bananas in general.
But cooking it can improve the taste. Usually, the locals use the fruit for medicines for its healing properties. There is no actual research about the healing property of the fruit. But, locals believe that it can cure various diseases.
Not only the fruits, but locals also use other parts of the tree for their daily needs, not only the fruits. People use the midrib of the leaves to make a craft-like basket for harvest because of its big and strong characteristics. Locals also used the leaves as food wraps and the roof for emergency shelters.
The Efforts to Preserves The Banana Trees
As one natural wonder, International Musa Germplasm Transit Center records this species as a unique plant. The Belgian organization stated that this species could be endangered because of its low reproduction.
The government then stipulates that this species is protected. It can be used to a certain extent for traditional cultural purposes. Because of its low reproduction, the tree also has a minimum age requirement for locals to harvest trees.
The efforts seem to bear their fruits when the population of the trees gets higher since its first discoveries. The government still included it in the list of endangered floras in Indonesia with a rating of A, as rare.
