Do you know what is one of the largest plants in the rain forest?  The banana plant is! Bananas grow in hot, damp climates and thrive in rich soil. About 35-40 million tons of bananas are grown each year. Brazil is the largest grower and India is the second largest.
     Banana farmers start a crop by cutting growths from the underground stems of a mature banana plant. Three to four weeks later, leaves sprout until they look like large drooping feathers. Full grown leaves range from 6 to 10 feet long and from 1 to 2 feet wide. When the plant is about 10 months old, large buds grow. These flowers develop into tiny green bananas. Each cluster consists of 10 to 20 bananas. Bananas are picked while they are green so they will be ripe when they reach the consumer.
      Bananas are rich in carbohydrates. They have vitamins A and C and minerals.  You can eat them raw or cooked.  My favorite way to eat bananas are raw or in banana splits!
 

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