Banana: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Oct. 27, 2026

News •

Have scientists finally found a way to save the banana from disaster? • Oct. 22, 2026, 11:23 AM ET (The Guardian)

Photos

Bunches of ripe yellow and unripe green bananas stacked together outside a greengrocer shop in Honduras.

Plate of spicy mofongo made with mashed plantains, garlic, and chicharron, topped with chunks of meat and served with broth, garnished with fresh herbs.

Banana inflorescence

Rows of banana plants on a plantation in Guadeloupe, with bunches of bananas covered in protective blue plastic bags.

Cluster of ripe yellow Gros Michel bananas with dark tips on a branch.

Large cluster of unripe green bananas, Musa acuminata Gros Michel, growing on a banana plant surrounded by broad green leaves.

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Topics

Gros Michel Cavendish banana Today in History—April 10: The Day Bananas Debuted in London Are Bananas Radioactive?Why Do Bananas Turn Brown?Musa Tropical Race 4 Panama disease fruit Grape goji berry Apple Fig Mango Orange Lemon Peach Tomato Avocado

Key People

Alpini, engraving

Prospero Alpini

Italian scientist

Red and yellow cherry tomatoes, some forming a question mark, against a light blue background. (organic, fruits, vegetables)

Fruit or Vegetable? A Quiz

Grains and spices in bags, India. (Indian, vendor, market, food)

Ultimate Foodie Quiz

Ceviche. Peruvian ceviche (sebiche). Raw seafood dish with lime, cilantro, peppers, plantains. Cuisine, food

A World of Food Quiz

Chef tossing vegetables in a frying pan over a burner (skillet, food).

What’s on the Menu? Vocabulary Quiz