This Tree is non-woody and has no bark. The trunk may reach 12m high. Large simple Leaves have a bright red to orange midrib. This family includes the common banana. These plants have an unbranched false stem that may reach 15m high and members appear to have woody stems. The fleshy, thickset Tree is up to 12m high. It has no secondary thickening (it is non-woody), no bark and is unbranched. The Stem (main axis of the plant, the leaf and flower bearing as distinguished from the root-bearing axis) may narrow slightly towards its apex (photo 598). This stem consists of densely packed imbricated (having regularly arranged, overlapping edges) bases of petioles, which remain when the blades of the leaf have died. The stem has no annual rings but a cross-section, part the way up the stem, reveals the petiole bases that appear almost as spirals and are slightly similar in appearance to annual rings. This drought tolerant plant is common in moist mountain forests, near swamps, riverbanks and in the open from 1 400m to more than 2 000m. However, it is frost sensitive. The stem can store large quantities of water and this helps survival during dry and drought conditions. Underground rhizomes (underground stem – distinguished from the root by the presence of nodes, buds or scale-like leaves) are more palatable and nutritious than the fruit. This plant forms a staple food crop in Ethiopia – including the harvesting of horizontally running rhizomes and young fruits. The young Inflorescence is edible. Good Fibre, extracted from the stem is used for cordage and sacking.