Plantain Varieties. There are different types of plantain the main varieties found as a weed are Broadleafed plantain Plantago major and Narrowleaf plantain Plantago lanceolata. Both types grow in India Africa Egypt and tropical America.
Parents of the cultivated types are Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana two wild species which are usually seedy. Plantains are believed to have originated in Southeast Asia. There are around 1000 varieties of bananas in different sizes shapes and even colors.
Two groups of plantains are thought to have a common origin.
They are usually cooked and not eaten raw unless they are very ripe. There are also two common related species Rugels plantain P. They are also a major staple food in Africa Latin America and Asia. For example there are small red bananas long plump green bananas purple bananas and chubby baby bananas that are only 3 75 cm long.
