The Plátano de Sombra is one of the ornamental species most sought after by society, mainly because of its great splendor and leafiness that it presents. Let's learn about some of the characteristics and care of this majestic tree, here in this article.
Shadow Banana
Trees are considered the main protagonists of life and nature, they are responsible for carrying out one of the most important processes for humanity and that is to provide oxygen to all corners of the earth, in addition to They are responsible for bringing beauty to the landscape that surrounds us, being a symbol of peace and tranquility, therefore, we can find them in the center of the city, on the roads, outside homes.
There is a great variety of trees that are sought after for their great splendor, among them the shade banana tree stands out, for many considered very common, they can be found on the banks of the streets and also in avenues; Likewise, it is considered one of the most sought-after trees to decorate gardens, mainly because it has characteristics that are very resistant to different climatic conditions, being very easy to care for.
The shade banana, also known as Platanus x Hispanica, is considered a species resulting from the hybridization of two varieties, being a tree that can reach great heights, approximately 55 meters, it belongs to the Platanaceae family, and is also considered a deciduous tree that corresponds to those that tend to lose their foliage and their green color during winter seasons for greater energy conservation.
The shade banana is considered a hybrid of the Platanus Orientalis, a species native to Southwest Asia, and the Platanus Occidentalis, a species native to the Atlantic area of the United States, although this information is not 100% confirmed, which is why some scientists consider that it actually corresponds. to Platanus Orientalis, therefore, its origin is not very well defined. It can be commonly seen in parks and gardens, especially in the more temperate zones of the world.
Features
The shade banana is considered a monoecious tree, because it is a plant that can have both sexes, becoming hermaphroditic, as well as being deciduous, being influenced by the different seasons of the year. It can reach more than 40 meters in height, has open branches of deciduous leaves and has a wide crown, hence its name because it can provide great shade and is very practical to be cultivated on roads and parks.
Its bark has an ashy color (light gray like an ash color) or also greenish depending on the season of the year in which it is found (spring and summer), a brown color can also be observed on the trunk of those of greater age due to the fact that the scales begin to detach, which can expose some yellowish and even whitish spots on the entire inner bark.
Its leaves become very similar to those of maples with dimensions of 12 to 22 centimeters long and 12 to 30 centimeters wide, even being tri or penta palmatifid, they are considered as leaves with clefts from the edge to the area of the semimbo. In the case of flowers, they are usually of the inflorescence type, they are those that are born grouped directly from the stem.
In the case of male and female flowers they are usually grouped in pairs, each sex is grouped on itself and along the stem, in the case of female flowers they are of the globular and hanging type, with a size of approximately 2 to 3 centimeters of diameter located around the receptacle, it usually happens that they have the presence of very small flowers. The flowering period of the shade banana is during the month of April.
The growth rate of the shade banana can be very fast, in addition they are considered very long-lived, with species with up to 300 years of life, currently it is considered a very popular hybrid in parks and in all the gardens of the countries with temperate climates. It is a species that is widely distributed in areas with riverbanks and abundant water.
A very particular characteristic of the Sombra banana is that it can become highly allergenic, especially during its flowering period at the time of pollination, it tends to spread a large amount of pollen in the environment, being the cause of numerous allergies and also discomforts. increasing significantly when they are cultivated in home gardens, generating great respiratory discomfort.
Uses of the Shade Banana
The shade banana is considered a very old tree that has always provided different properties and benefits for society, highlighting the fact that the species can be found in London, Spain and even in Turkey, their origin is not exactly known but they tend to appears along streams and riverbanks, among some of the main uses given to this tree:
- Antiquity
The importance of the shade banana for society has been known since ancient times, it came to be used for the construction of mobile cars that were pushed by the laborers who were in charge of transporting the merchandise diligently and quickly in the territorial crops.
- Ornamental
Decorative plants are considered those exclusively cultivated due to their ornamental characteristics such as flowers, leaves and even the perfume given off by them, all this to market and decorate indoor and outdoor areas. In the case of the shade banana, it can become a species with an ornamental use, being very popular for its large dimensions that are responsible for generating a lot of shade.
It is considered one of the most sought after species in European regions to be cultivated in city areas, gardens and homes. Being located in areas where it maintains direct contact with the sun, in addition to also needing abundant irrigation. Normally they tend to be used in rows of trees to decorate the borders of gardens.
- Economic
It should be noted that trees are one of the main sources of wood for the whole world. Considered one of the most important raw materials, with which the construction of different essential products can be carried out, such as boards, furniture, beds, corner posts, among other functions. Its wood is characterized by being very hard and resistant, which is why it is essential for the development of the economic and social sphere of humanity.
- Medicinal
One of the most relevant characteristics of the shade banana is the astringent properties that its leaves and bark have, all this due to its tissues that can have healing, anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhagic actions. Being widely used for all those problems with colds, respiratory problems and even internal or external bleeding.
Shade Banana Cultivation
The maintenance of a plant is of the utmost importance to ensure adequate and healthy growth, mainly for trees that are grown in gardens, especially those that are tree species where adequate conditions must be granted for their development; The shade banana is considered a very long-lived and resistant tree, but it needs specific cultivation conditions to favor its great growth. Below we know the necessary cultivation conditions for the shade banana:
- Substrates
The substrates correspond to the area or surface where a plant can live or develop, in the case of shade bananas they can be grown in any type of soil, it is recommended that they be shallow, fresh and little limestone soils, In this way, the good drainage of the water is guaranteed as it circulates throughout the shade banana cultivation system.
- Energy
Plants always need to be exposed to a large amount of sunlight to carry out the different biochemical processes that favor plant growth and also allow them to carry out the photosynthesis process carried out by plants. In the case of the shade banana, it is a tree that needs to be exposed to the sun regularly, in this way the healthy growth of the tree is guaranteed.
- Pruning
Pruning is a set of practices necessary to maintain the aesthetics of the plant but it is also a maintenance process to favor its conservation and shape. In the case of the shade banana, they can tolerate all types of pruning. Training pruning is used remove branches that grow out of the shape of the tree, in addition to eliminating those that are dry or in a diseased state. It is advisable to carry out pruning during the spring stages.
- Humidity
Humidity can be considered one of the fundamental conditions for the proper growth of trees, having a great influence on the internal sap of the tree. The shade banana must have a lot of humidity, mainly during its first year of planting, then over time irrigation schedules can be carried out depending on the area in which it is planted (near streams) and the climatic conditions of the area.
- Reproduction
The reproduction of the shade banana can be carried out through two types of systems by cuttings, corresponding to protuberances that emerge from the trunks, it is recommended to cut it without damaging any part of the tree, plant it in a substrate rich in minerals until the root is obtained. enough, it is finally planted in the ground. The second method of reproduction is by seeds, where other species intervene that are responsible for pollinating the female cells of the tree with the male cells of another.
- Fruits
The shadow banana can have a moment of maturation during the spring seasons, sprouting some of its fruits. Its seeds tend to be collected during the winter period, managing to be germinated without any type of specific treatment. Then the seed must be stored in dark bottles and at a low temperature, every so often they must be stratified or subjected to soaking for several days before they can be sown.
Problems that affect the Plantain of Shadow
The shade banana is considered a strong, long-lived tree, easy to maintain and very easy to plant, despite this it is not exempt from difficulties like all plants. Among the different problems that can occur in the shade banana are the pests and diseases that can cause problems in its growth, malformations and even death, let us know the most influential species in the shade banana:
- Powdery mildew
It is considered the most important disease that can attack the shade banana, it can also be called blanquilla or cenilla, it is considered a fungus scientifically known as Microsphaera platani, it is responsible for attacking the leaves and young stems, even its fruits and flowers; One of the main symptoms observed in trees is the appearance of a white or grayish, mealy-looking or cotton-like coating.
It is formed in the mycelia and the conidia correspond to the organs of asexual reproduction, one of the most significant changes due to the presence of this fungus is where the leaves begin to turn yellow, begin to wither, their growth stops and until finally dry it. To avoid its appearance, it is advisable to apply a preventive dose of sulfur and reduce the chances of the fungus appearing.
- Corituca
Also known as the banana tiger, being a kind of forest pest that exclusively attacks the shade banana, they have a creamy-white coloration and with a couple of dark spots in the central area of the wing. They are a kind of insect that invades the leaves of the tree until they completely lose their shine and generate a change of heat until they turn yellow.
The main damage caused by the insect is to cause a bite and suction of the sap produced by the leaves, in addition to depigmentation, weakening the silver until it dries and dies. The fight against the insect is through injections of acephate directly into the trunk.
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