Is this bizarre flowering grass an extraterrestrial?
A Japanese banana (basyo in Japanese) hanging over the block fence of a private residence in NISHIOGI.
This plant originated in China and is a perennial. It can grow as high as 2-4m (6.6-13.1ft).
There are banana-like fruits in two-tiers under the flower; those fruits have many seeds and strong astringency, so it’s said to be unsuitable for food.
The well-known haiku poet, Matsuo Basho is said to have named him Basho, as the flowering plant presented by his pupil grew beautifully and became a symbol of his hut, Basho-an.
これはETか？
この異様な姿は地球外生命体か？
西荻の民家の庭から塀を超えて垂れ下がる「バショウ（芭蕉）」。
中国原産の多年草。高さは2～４ｍ(6.6-13.1ft.)にもなる。
花の下にバナナそっくりの果実が2列並んでいるが、種が多く渋みが強いので食用には向かないという。
俳聖松尾芭蕉は、門徒から寄贈されたバショウの株が立派に育ち、自身の庵の名物になっていたことにちなんで芭蕉と名乗ったと伝えられる。
