Strelitzia alba

What to Eat

Edible parts: Seeds

The seeds are used as a vegetable.

Where to Find It

It is a subtropical plant.

Africa, South Africa*, Southern Africa,

How to Identify

A tree. It grows 10 m tall. The leaves are large and oblong. The flowers are white.

Strelitzia alba also known as white-flowered wild banana, white bird of paradise, or Cape wild banana is a plant of the Bird of Paradise family and is endemic to the Garden Route along the southernmost coastal regions of the district of Humansdorp Eastern and district of Knysna in Western Cape in South Africa. It grows in evergreen forest, gorges, and on slopes along the rivers. Strelitzia alba is referred to in the Red List of South African plants as not endangered (Least Concern). Phakamani Xaba of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens visited the wild populations several times and came to a different view of the threat status. It has been observed that collectors have removed many of the side shoots required for vegetative propagation, in the populations there are no young plants or seedlings and the seeds are always harvested before they reach the soil.

More from Strelitziaceae

Phenakospermum guyannense

Yebao, Paloeloe

Ravenala madagascariensis

Traveller's palm, Traveller's tree

Strelitzia augusta

Great white strelitzia

Strelitzia caudata

Mountain stretlitzia, False wild banana

Strelitzia nicolai

White bird-of Paradise

Strelitzia reginae

Bird's tongue flower, Crane flower, Bird-of-Paradise