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Animals attracted to the Banana inflorescence

on 22nd February 2015

The image above shows two banana plants (Musa ‘Cavindish’), each with a fully developed inflorescence branch. The upper portion bears developing fruits from female flowers.

The plant in the foreground has a length of bare branch below the fruit bunches. This portion bore male flowers that subsequently fall off. At the bottom of the branch is a compact, teardrop-shaped inflorescence bud that will continue to give rise to male flowers – see HERE for details of the inflorescence morphology.

The banana flowers produce copious nectar that attracts a range of animals. Even after blooming, nectar is produced and can be literally seen dripping off the flowers, even up to a few days after (below).

Because of this nectar the entire inflorescence has become a unique ecosystem supporting various organisms, most prominent of which are birds like the Spectacled Spiderhunter (Arachnothera flavigaster) that feed on the nectar LINK and the White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) that feed on the ripening fruits LINK.

Less obvious fauna are Cave Nectar Bats (Eonycteris spelaea) as they appear only after dusk to feed on the flower nectar – as shown in the video above. They probe with their narrow projecting snout into the flowers to lick up the nectar with gusto, as clearly shown in the video.

Again, seldom seen are the nocturnal Spotted House Geckos (Gekko monarchs) that reside among the flowers, also to feed on the nectar as well as the resident ants (above, below).

Both the bat and the lizard are sensitive to each other’s presence, the former flying off and the latter scurrying between the flowers should either be caught unaware.

YC Wee
Singapore
January 2015

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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