Strelitzia alba

(L.f.) Skeels

Strelitziaceae Edible: Seeds 79 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Strelitzia alba also known as white-flowered wild banana, white bird of paradise, or Cape wild banana is a plant of the Bird of Paradise family and is endemic to the Garden Route along the southernmost coastal regions of the district of Humansdorp Eastern and district of Knysna in Western Cape in South Africa. It grows in evergreen forest, gorges, and on slopes along the rivers. Strelitzia alba is referred to in the Red List of South African plants as not endangered (Least Concern). Phakamani Xaba of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens visited the wild populations several times and came to a different view of the threat status. It has been observed that collectors have removed many of the side shoots required for vegetative propagation, in the populations there are no young plants or seedlings and the seeds are always harvested before they reach the soil.

Description

A tree. It grows 10 m tall. The leaves are large and oblong. The flowers are white.

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Edible Uses

The seeds are used as a vegetable.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are used as a vegetable.

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Distribution

It is a subtropical plant.

Where It Grows

Africa, South Africa*, Southern Africa,

Synonyms

Heliconia alba L.f.Heliconia augusta Salisb.Strelitzia alba subsp. augusta (Thunb.) Maire & WeillerStrelitzia angusta D. Dietr.Strelitzia augusta Thunb.

References (3)

Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 104
Welcome, A. K. & Van Wyk, B.-E., 2019, An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 136–179
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew