Pseudostem green, to c. 6 m high; suckering characteristics not known; sap usually colourless. Leaf lamina 300–350 cm long, usually c. 60 cm wide; petiole not seen. Inflorescence pendulous; upper bracts long-persistent. Female or bisexual flowers not seen. Male flowers cream with purplish tips; perianth variable, of a syntepalum and 1 free petal, or segments alternate and united, of 2 sepals, one longer than the other and 3-lobed, and 2 petals, or segments alternate and free, of 3 sepals and 3 petals; sepals oblong, 25–37 mm long, 4–10 mm wide; petals ovate, 15–22 mm long, 5–8 mm wide; pedicel 8–11 mm long. Berry ± triangular-obovoid and slightly angular, 5–6 cm long, 2–2.2 cm diam. (when dried), ripening yellow; pedicel 1.5–2 cm long. Seeds 4.5–6.5 mm diam.
Native. Presumed extinct (Australian Plant Census, accessed 15 September 2020).
Qld (type): Daintree River, E. Fitzalan; holo MEL; iso BRI.
Although Simmonds (1956), placed this species in sect. Musa, there is some doubt whether it belongs there or in sect. Australimusa since it is so poorly known.
Baker, J.G. (1893). A synopsis of the genera and species of Museae, in Koenig, K.D.E. & Sims, J. (eds), Annals of Botany 7(2): 189–222.
Häkkinen, M. (2013). Reappraisal of sectional taxonomy in Musa (Musaceae). Taxon 62(4): 809–813.
Mueller, F.J.H. von (1875). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 9(80): 188.
Ross, E.M. (1987). Musaceae, in George, A.S. (ed.), Flora of Australia 45: 16–19. (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra).
Simmonds, N.W. (1957). Botanical results of the banana collecting expedition, 1954–55. Kew Bulletin 11(3): 463–489.
Author - E.M. Ross
Editor - P.G. Kodela
Contributor -
Acknowledgements -
Cite this profile as: E.M. Ross. Musa fitzalanii, in P.G. Kodela (ed.), Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Musa%20fitzalanii [Date Accessed: 19 September 2025]