The water banana is related to elephant’s ear and water lettuce. The plant, which grows in slow-flowing waters, marshes and coastal lagoons, is found in Madagascar, Mauritius, the Comoros, Pemba and Zanzibar.
This perennial grows up to four metres tall. The spike, which bears both male and female flowers, has an unpleasant smell to us; the pollinating beetles, however, are attracted to the scent. The seeds are buoyant and germinate in water.
