Ethiopian banana, Abyssinian banana (Ensete ventricosum)

The Abyssinian or Ethiopian banana can reach a height of up to 20m and a trunk diameter of up to 1m. It is an impressive ornamental plant and its special leaves have a beautiful red line in its center. Although its fruit is not edible in Ethiopia it is an extremely useful plant. From its stems you get a thickening flour and its leaves are used as fodder for livestock and to build roofs for houses. The inner part of the stems is also consumed as a vegetable.