Musa \Mu"sa\, prop. n.; pl. Musae. [NL., fr. Ar. mauz, mauza,
   banana.] (Bot.)
   A genus of perennial, herbaceous, endogenous plants of great
   size, including the banana (Musa sapientum), the plantain
   (Musa paradisiaca of Linnaeus, but probably not a distinct
   species), the Abyssinian (Musa Ensete), the Philippine
   Island (Musa textilis, which yields Manila hemp), and about
   eighteen other species. See Illust. of Banana and
   Plantain.
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Banana \Ba*na"na\ (b[.a]*n[aum]"n[.a]; 277), n. [Sp. banana,
   name of the fruit.] (Bot.)
   A perennial herbaceous plant of almost treelike size (Musa
   sapientum); also, its edible fruit. See Musa.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The banana has a soft, herbaceous stalk, with leaves of
         great length and breadth. The flowers grow in bunches,
         covered with a sheath of a green or purple color; the
         fruit is five or six inches long, and over an inch in
         diameter; the pulp is soft, and of a luscious taste,
         and is eaten either raw or cooked. This plant is a
         native of tropical countries, and furnishes an
         important article of food.
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   Banana bird (Zool.), a small American bird (Icterus
      leucopteryx), which feeds on the banana.

   Banana quit (Zool.), a small bird of tropical America, of
      the genus Certhiola, allied to the creepers.
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