The familiar yellow banana dominates grocery store aisles, leading many to assume all bananas share this characteristic hue. However, the plant kingdom holds a surprising variety of fruits that challenge these common perceptions. The existence of a naturally pink banana often sparks curiosity, making one wonder about its origins and unique attributes.
The Truth About Pink Bananas
Pink bananas are indeed real, belonging to a species known scientifically as Musa velutina, also commonly called the Hairy Banana or Pink Velvet Banana. These plants are smaller than the commercial banana varieties, typically growing to about 4 to 6 feet tall. Musa velutina produces clusters of small, brightly colored fruits that are typically vibrant pink or reddish-pink. The peel often has a fuzzy, velvety texture, which contributes to its common name, “Hairy Banana.”
These distinctive bananas are native to regions including Northeast India and the eastern Himalayas, and are also found in parts of Southeast Asia. They grow in subtropical areas and are often encountered in the wild or cultivated in ornamental gardens. The fruits usually measure around 3 inches (8 cm) in length and tend to split open when they reach full ripeness.
Why the Pink Hue?
The striking pink color of Musa velutina fruit stems from the presence of natural compounds called anthocyanins. These are water-soluble pigments found in the cells of many plants, responsible for a wide range of red, purple, and blue colors observed in fruits, flowers, and leaves. The plant produces these pigments as part of its genetic makeup, contributing to the fruit’s unique appearance.
Anthocyanins are part of a larger group of plant compounds known as flavonoids. Their production in plants can be influenced by various factors, including genetics, light exposure, temperature, and pH levels. For Musa velutina, the specific genetic programming leads to a high concentration of these pink-hued pigments in the fruit’s peel and sometimes the flesh.
Culinary and Ornamental Uses
While pink bananas are technically edible, their culinary appeal differs significantly from the widely consumed yellow varieties. The fruit’s creamy white flesh is sweet with a slight tanginess, but it contains numerous large, hard black seeds. These seeds are quite tough, making the fruit difficult to eat due to its numerous seeds. One small pink banana can contain around 40 seeds.
Despite their limitations as a food source, Musa velutina is primarily valued for its ornamental qualities. Its vibrant pink fruits, coupled with its compact size and lush foliage, make it a popular choice for tropical and subtropical gardens. The plant’s decorative appeal often outweighs its utility as a fruit crop, leading to its widespread cultivation in gardens and as a container plant. In some traditional settings, however, parts of the plant, such as the male buds, are harvested and consumed as vegetables.