No, bananas do not grow on banana trees.
While often mistaken for trees, banana plants are actually giant herbs. According to bananalink.org.uk, the banana plant is a perennial that replaces itself, meaning it lives for more than two years. Here's a breakdown:
- Not Trees: Banana plants don't have a woody trunk like a typical tree. Instead, they have a pseudostem formed from tightly packed leaf sheaths.
- Herbs, Not Trees or Palms: Despite their size, they are classified as herbs, a category which includes plants that do not have woody stems.
- Growth from Bulbs: Unlike many fruits, bananas do not grow from seeds. They grow from a bulb or rhizome, an underground stem.
- Time to Fruit: It typically takes 9 to 12 months from planting a banana bulb to harvesting the fruit.
Key Differences
| Feature | Banana Plant | Tree |
|---|---|---|
| Stem | Pseudostem (leaf sheaths) | Woody trunk |
| Classification | Herb | Tree or Palm |
| Growth From Seeds | No | Yes |
| Life Cycle | Perennial | Usually perennial |
Therefore, while banana plants may look like trees, they are indeed giant herbaceous plants that produce the banana fruit.
