BANANA

A tall herbaceous endogenous plant, the Musa sapienlum of botanists, having broad convex leaves with fine oblique veins, and growing in a tuft from the top of a stem formed by the union of the broad bases of the leaves. The fruit ripens in succe ion in large clusters weighing many pounds; it is of the same nature as the plantain [quod ride). It is a native of the West Indies, where it contributes e entially to the food of the better cla es. [s. 135]