A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus Musa. The fruit is variable in size, color, and firmness, but is usually elongated and curved, with soft flesh rich in starch covered with a rind, which may be green, yellow, red, purple, or brown when ripe.
Bananas are thought to have been first domesticated in Papua New Guinea. Today, they are cultivated throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The most commonly cultivated bananas are derived from hybrids of the species Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana.
Bananas are rich in potassium, which is essential for heart health and blood pressure control. They also provide vitamins C and B6, as well as dietary fiber.
Besides being eaten fresh, bananas can be used in cooking, baking, and in desserts. They are also a popular ingredient in smoothies and milkshakes.