Tag: Musa paradisiaca

Interestingly, over 85% of the world's banana-family crops are actually plantains, a starchy tropical fruit that belongs to the Musaceae family. A common point of confusion, the question of which group is plantain is easily clarified through botany.

Bananas, one of the world's most widely consumed fruits, have a rich history in traditional medicine for treating various ailments, including dysentery and ulcers. Beyond their popular nutritional value, the medicinal uses of bananas span from aiding digestive health to providing potent antioxidants, impacting various bodily systems.

Plantains are botanically classified as a fruit, belonging to the same family as bananas. However, the answer to which class of food is plantain under is more complex, as its culinary use as a starchy vegetable often creates confusion.

Though often mistaken for a large banana, plantains are botanically distinct and primarily cultivated for cooking. The classification of a plantain places it in the same genus as the common banana, *Musa*, but with different hybrid ancestry and culinary uses that set it apart. These starchy, tropical fruits are a staple food for millions worldwide.