Ascension : Ascension Island Conservation Department
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 16.06.2011 (Article Archived on 30.06.2011)

This week we continue with our information on trees which grow here on Ascension.

Ascension Island Conservation Department

Banana Trees Musa sp.

This week we continue with our information on trees which grow here on Ascension.

Photo by Wendy Fairhurst

Musaceae is a small family mainly of gigantic, evergreen, perennial herbs. The most important cultivated member is the banana which evolved in Southeast Asia. The Classification of the genus Musa is difficult due to 3000 years of cultivation and hybridisation.

When this type of tree grows the ‘trunk’ is composed of leaf bases and when the flowering shoot has risen and the borne fruit, it subsequently dies. The upper side of trees becomes bananas; the lower ones provide pollen and the middle ones drop off. The bananas of these trees are properly ready to be picked for eating when the skin is mottled with brown spots. Nearly all the edible varieties, including red and green fruit, entirely lack seeds.

Bananas were introduced to Ascension the early days of the Garrison which was around 1816 and grew well in the ravines on the upper slopes of Green Mountain. Terraced slopes below the farm were also used for formal planting.  Sadly the groves are now abandoned and the bananas grow wild.

Paths

When driving on the track towards Cricket Valley please stop at the bay at the top of the Cricket Valley track. Do not drive beyond this point due to flood damage.

Ascension Day Fair

This year’s Ascension Day Fair was another brilliant event. Here are the results from the colouring competition.

Year 3-5 Leyton Wade

                 Lewis Wade

Year 5-7 Cain John

Answers to the tree questions were:

Can you name the tree in the picture?

Norfolk Island Pines

Where on the Island do they grow?

Below the back of Green Mountain ‘The Pines’

Why were they introduced?

Introduced for the use of ship masts for passing ships.

Winner for these were Jedi Plato.

Well done to you all.

Please be advised that due to on-going field work the Conservation Office will open from 7.30am -10am during week days. We open as normal on Saturdays, 10am-12noon, signs will be posted on the door when the office is closed.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Volunteers welcome. Please contact Olivia Renshaw or Natasha Williams. Ascension Island Conservation Department. Georgetown. Tel: 6359. Email:  olivia.renshaw@ascension.gov.ac

natasha.williams@ascension.gov.ac