Do Bananas Grow on Trees?

Universe

If you were to see a banana plantation, you'd probably say "yes," bananas do grow on trees. But although banana plants certainly look like trees, growing up to 30 feet tall, they're really giant shoots — the banana plant is an herb, not a tree! In fact, the banana is the largest plant on earth without a woody stem.

The "trunk" of the banana tree is really a collection of thick leaves that are curled up to form a stem. Because the banana plant is a shoot and not a tree, each plant can bear fruit only once.

After the bananas are picked, the shoot is cut down and a new one is nurtured in its place. One banana plant can produce ten bunches of fruits, containing about 150 bananas altogether.

A banana plant grows so rapidly, it can add an inch to its size in one night.

Some workers on banana plantations say they can "hear" banana plants growing at night!