Why is the banana (plant) a herb?
410305
because it never forms a woody stem..ie it's not a tree.
314981
Medicinally, it has been used as an astringent and to treat menstrual dysfunction (although I'm not sure how effective it is).  Magically, its used for protection, fidelity, longevity, and transformation of grief.  In some (probably older) versions of the Aphrodite-Adonis myth, the flower which springs from Adonis's blood is amaranth rather than anemone - which makes sense since Adonis was originally analogous to the Semetic dying-and-rising (and therefore immortal) God Tammuz.
470510
aloe vera, the plant...
783503
At about 10 milligrams per banana, you're talking a lot of bananas, and that doesn't even count the extraction and purification loss you'll have.\n\nWhy not try wood ash. It's easier.
46744
No. Weed is an herb. Tomato is a fruit/vegetable.
567192
Actually if we grow a plant( especially the trees) from its seed it may take a long time to flower. So if we do budding or grafting or layering the plant part will behave like the mature plant and we will get quick yield. Through seeds the plant may not produce the same quality seedlings like that of mother plant. Most often the undesired character can appear. In order to produce plant that has all the characters of the mother plants these methods are essential. In some plants like roses it is very difficult to produce seeds and it is very difficult to germinate also. So in that case these techniques are essential. In some cases the plant may have triploid and tetraploids which often may not produce seeds at all. More over, seedless varieties are preferred as in case of banana mostly the edible varieties are triploids. In some plants we may require thousands of progenies at a time (orchids, bananas etc). Then we will go for tissue culture. In tuber crops, ginger, turmeric etc he main propagation is through the tubers. I hope it is clear now.
538624
Bananas can't reproduce themselves: they require human propagation to reproduce. Ever notice the little back spots in a banana? Those are what's left of their seeds after domestication. Don't believe me? You plant a banana and see what happens.\nAlso, a variety of diseases are attacking them:\nWhile in no danger of outright extinction, in the next 10-20 years the most common edible banana cultivar 'Cavendish' could become unviable for large-scale cultivation. The predecessor to 'Cavendish', the cultivar 'Gros Michel', has already suffered this fate. 'Cavendish' is an extremely popular fruit in Europe and the Americas; unfortunately, like almost all bananas, it lacks genetic diversity which makes it vulnerable to diseases such as:\n\n \nInspecting bananas for fruit flies.Panama Disease (Race 1) – fusarium wilt (a soil fungus). The fungus enters the plants through the roots and moves up with water into the trunk and leaves, producing gels and gums. These plug and cut off the flow of water and nutrients, causing the plant to wilt. Prior to 1960 almost all commercial banana production centered on the cultivar 'Gros Michel', which was highly susceptible to fusarium wilt. The cultivar 'Cavendish' was chosen as a replacement for 'Gros Michel' because out of the resistant cultivars it was viewed as producing the highest quality fruit. More care is required for shipping the 'Cavendish' banana and some argue that the 'Gros Michel' tastes better. \nTropical Race 4 - a reinvigorated strain of Panama Disease first discovered in 1992. This is a virulent form of fusarium wilt that has wiped out 'Cavendish' in several southeast Asian countries. It has yet to reach the Americas; however, soil fungi can easily be carried on boots, clothing, or tools. This is how Tropical Race 4 moves from one plantation to another and is its most likely route into Latin America. The Cavendish cultivar is highly susceptible to TR4, and over time Cavendish is almost certain to be eliminated from commercial production by this disease. Unfortunately TR4 is currently resistant to all known fungicides, the only known defense is genetic resistance. \nBlack Sigatoka - a fungal leaf spot disease first observed in Fiji in 1963 or 1964. Black Sigatoka (also known as Black Leaf Streak) has spread to banana plantations throughout the tropics due to infected banana leaves being used as packing material. It affects all of the main cultivars of bananas and plantains, impeding photosynthesis by turning parts of their leaves black, and eventually killing the entire leaf. Being starved for energy, fruit production falls by 50% or more, and the bananas that do grow suffer premature ripening, making them unsuitable for export. The fungus has shown ever increasing resistance to fungicidal treatment, with the current expense for treating 1 hectare exceeding US$1000 per year. In addition to the financial expense there is the question of how long such intensive spraying can be justified environmentally. Several resistant cultivars of banana have been developed, but none has yet received wide scale commercial acceptance due to taste and texture issues. \nBanana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) - this virus is spread from plant to plant by aphids. It causes stunting of the leaves resulting in a "bunched" appearance. Generally, a banana plant infected with the virus will not set fruit, although mild strains exist in many areas which do allow for some fruit production. These mild strains are often mistaken for malnourishment, or a disease other than BBTV. There is no cure for BBTV, however its effect can be minimised by planting only tissue cultured plants (In-vitro propagation), controlling the aphids, and immediately removing and destroying any plant from the field that shows signs of the disease. \nThese four diseases represent the main threats to both commercial cultivation and the small-scal
528567
it primarily comes from coffee beans and tea. Caffeine occurs naturally in many plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves and cocoa nuts., it is a drug and it is extracted\nGabby please give me an email at chevy_ridin_hot_boi@yahoo.com
745923
here in venezuela they fruit all year and the one i have in my garden produces about 50 to 70 in a year. But in the rainy zones (teh banana producing zones) they produce about 200.\nAnd technically they are neither a bush or a tree, they're a monocotiledoneus tall herb, but they have the height an the silouhete of a tree so call them banana trees and forget about all the nonsense discussion
371614
It's a plant.! DUH! oh, this is cuz: would you EAT a weed? especially the pointy ones growing in poisenous soil. Also, that's why weeds grow by plants, cuz they ARE PLANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
399090
Is this a question?  It sounds more like a statement and you are correct.  Many herbalists and traditional healers say they use "science", but it really isn't.  \n\nHerbology and homeopaths have their own belief structure... but it is anything but science.  Science has shown that many of their unfounded beliefs are patently ridiculous.\n\nFor the other posters:  Here's why herbalism is wrong.\n1.  You are not just getting one active ingregient.  Herbs have hundreds of ingredients.  How do you know that some of them might not be harmful?\n2.  You might not be getting just that herb.  When a company buys it's herbs from farmers, there is no way to test to make sure that weeds and other foreign vegetation weren't accidently (or purposely) included.\n3.  What was the original theory for why certain herbs worked?  Most herbs have not been scientifically tested.  Instead, centuries ago, many herbs were chosen as "beneficial" because of how they appeared.  Asparagus is a long straight stalk... therefore, it was thought to be good against impotence.  Yeah, that's scientific.  \n4.  You cannot measure out the active ingredient.  Prescription drugs are tightly controlled for the amount of active ingredient each pill contains.  You can't do that with herbs.  Any stoner can tell you that one plant of marijuana might have more THC than another.  You cannot tell how much of an active ingredient it would have.  \n5.  Many herbs have been shown to NOT be beneficial.  Yes, there are some studies that show herbs like St. John's Wort to be beneficial.  How many studies actually show other herbs to be beneficial?  Very, very few.\n6.  Side effects and drug interactions have not been identified.  Prescription drugs are carefully tested to find out their side effects and their drug interactions.  Yet, sometimes we here in the news that a drug might have problems that weren't known.  This being the case, why would a herb be any better?  Because they'd be used for centuries?  Just because something has been done for a long time doesn't mean that it's the smart thing to do.\n7.  Information about herbs is frequently wrong.  Echineacea was shown to increase white blood cells.  Herbalists immediately jumped on a "echineacea is good for the immune system" platform.  However, the WBCs were malformed.  Later testing revealed that long term use actually lowered a person's WBC's count below normal.  Further testing revealed that the malformed WBCs initially formed did not help fight off viruses or bacteria.  What does this mean?  It meant that echineacea is actually BAD for you!  Yet, herbalists continue to tout it's supposed beneficial effects!
519701
don't think sp, but i hear you can get high from smoking bananas
291347
The term banana is applied to both the plant and its elongated fruit (technically a false berry) which grow in hanging clusters, with up to 20 fruit to a tier (called a hand), and 5-20 tiers to a bunch. The total of the hanging clusters is known as a bunch, or commercially as a "banana stem", and can weigh from 30–50 kg. The fruit averages 125g, of which approximately 75% is water and 25% dry matter content. Bananas are a valuable source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and potassium. Also look at link below.
782939
The medicinal crops are the crops grown commercially to yield the products medicinally use full.These products may be secondary metabolites of these plants or the whole plant or its parts may be used.E.G- Ferula narthex(asafoetida.)resin is medicinally useful.Santalum album(sandal wood)wood is useful.Aloe vera(aloe plant)Mucilage in the stem,leaves is usefull.
394227
They sure can! Here's an article that someone sent me the other day on the good things bananas can do for you.... :D\n \n"After reading this, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again!\n\nBananas Containing three natural sugars -  sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.  Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough\nenergy  for a strenuous 90-minute workout.   No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.\n\nDepression:\nAccording to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts\ninto serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.\n\nPMS:\nForget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.\n\nAnemia:\nHigh in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.\n\nBlood Pressure:\nThis unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.\n\nBrain Power:\n200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit\ncan assist learning by making pupils more alert.\n\nConstipation:\nHigh in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.\n\nHangovers:\nOne of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and\nre-hydrates your system.\n\nHeartburn:\nBananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.\n\nMorning Sickness:\nSnacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.\n\nMosquito bites:\nBefore reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin.  Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.\n\nNerves:\nBananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.\n\nOverweight and at work?\nStudies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be\nin high-pressure jobs.  The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.\n\nUlcers:\nThe banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness.  It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.  It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.\n\nTemperature control:\nMany other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.\n\nSeasona
1144748
Herbs are plants used for either seasoning or for illness and also for some rituals. It started hundreds of years ago when men discovered that certain plants made them feel better or cured some illness's. It was also used in some religious rituals to get visions by the indians or others. It was passed down from generation to genration and it is what pharmacology sprang from when men learned how to make medicine from plants. Only now they charge you an arm and a leg to get the stuff. You could research it and grow your own I guess,lol
113621
Ephedra is the herb.  It is not the chemical form where "scientists" mixed the chemical form with the herbal form.  I have heard it is leagal again (hooray!) but I am not 100% certain.  I hope it is because it is a wonderful herb that can help with so many things when used appropriately.