2007-02-09 17:58:54 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
Here are quotes from the two links below:
"All banana and plantain cultivars were derived from two main species:
Musa acuminata Colla (syn.s M. cavendishii Lamb. ex Paxt., M. chinensis Sweet, M. nana, M. zebrina Van Houtee ex Planch.).
Musa balbisiana Colla
"Bananas and plantains belong to the Musaceae, known simply as the banana family. There are 25-80 species in the genus Musa, depending on the taxonomist."
"The real difference between all of these is starch content, to put it simply, they are either potato-like with lots of starch (cooking bananas and unripe plantains) and those with very low starch content which are the tasty dessert bananas."
2007-02-11 07:07:04 · answer #1 · answered by A1973 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are both the fruits of banana trees. However, a banana is usually termed for the sweet, yellow, grocery store fruit. A plantain is much larger and has a more gritty taste. It is usually prepared with dishes almost like a vegetable would be.
2007-02-09 21:37:54 · answer #2 · answered by adonisMD 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plantain is a vegetable while banana is a fruit.
2007-02-09 21:22:51 · answer #3 · answered by Chigorin 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Plantains are much larger and more bitter
2007-02-09 18:02:45 · answer #4 · answered by kaledrina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋