Ensete superbum (Roxb.) Cheesman.

കല്ലുവാഴ

Family : MUSACEAE

Synonym : Musa superba Roxb.

Common Names : Kalluvazha, Malavazha

Flowering Period : Throughout the year

Distribution : Peninsular India

Habitat : Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests

Uses : Ayurvedic, ornamental

Key Characters :

Erect herbs with globose leafsheaths formed into a pseudostem. Leaves spirally arranged, oblong, entire with channelled midrib. Spadix with 3-5 spathes at base; bracts several. Flowers many on each bracts; unisexual, female flowers towards the base and male flowers above. Septemberals and 2 petals united into a sheath, 5-lobed; third petals forms into a membranous sheath. Stamens 5, perfect. Ovary 3-celled, inferior. Fruit oblong; seeds few, black.