The fruit looks very angular like Dwarf Orinoco but your description of the red/maroon splotching on the top side of the leaf indicates a Cavendish. Particularly the fact that the splotching disappears over time. I'd say Dwarf Cavendish but that's a guess without having a full picture of the plant with an intact bloom.

Steve

I would say that this is not the healthiest or "representational" fruit. The plant has been growing indoors for it's entire life and is less than vigorous. Unfortunately it tore itself apart producing the bloom but I have been taking pictures along the way. I will try to post more tonight. Is there something in particular to look for? I know petal color helps. Perhaps the flower tips of the bananas? They are darkening and about to fall off.

How did you acquire this banana and where did it come from. That might help to identify it. For instance, Orinoco is the most common banana along the extreme southern parts of the Gulf of Mexico states.

I was going to post more pics but did not realize they were on the other computer. The original bananas came from a fund raiser. My old boss bought them and passed them on to me when they had grown large. I don't know if they were ordered in or harvested from a local nursery's pups. They do appear to be the same as the University uses in their landscaping which regularly blooms.

I am in southeast Kansas.
The plants were purchased here.
The bloom does have reddish petals unlike the yellow blooms of the "cold hardy" types.
Besides the splotches on the leaves when young, the stalk also has reddish coloration unlike the all green stalk of my "cold hardy" banana.

I want to make sure I understand you correctly.

"They do appear to be the same as the University uses in their landscaping which regularly blooms."

Are you saying that the banana in your picture regularly blooms in the ground at the Univeristy and that it has reddish petals? And you are in zone 6?

Does the yellow blooming, cold hardy banana you mentioned have a pendant bloom or an upright bloom? Pendant bloom=Musa Basjoo.

Reddish coloration on the stalk of your blooming container grown banana leads me to believe that it is a Cavendish since some red coloration on the pseudostem sometimes is present. But that banana is not rated for zone 6 in the ground for survival and most assuridly not rated for zone 6 for fruiting.

Steve

Here are two pictures of "sister" plants. All came from the same originals. Hopefully it will give a better view of the leaf splotches and p-stem coloration.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/sfhellwig/leavesandstalk.jpg

One on the left is basjoo, other two are sisters to indoor plant.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/sfhellwig/bigonesoutfront.jpg

Here is the plant just as bloom is emerging. It is obvious it is having a hard time as the leaves had no yellowing just days before.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/sfhellwig/beforethefall.jpg

And here is the best emerging bloom pic I got.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/sfhellwig/emergingwithflagleaf.jpg

To clarify what grows here. The yellow blooms are pendant and I was assuming basjoo. None of the nurseries will say, they just agree "yeah, the cold hardy one." Wasn't sure if there was another similar banana that gets sold at run of the mill nurseries. These still require beheading and a mulch cage to keep the stalk. As for the "cavendish" they get pulled every winter. I assume they keep them in a greenhouse because they put them out with green leaves in the spring. However they choose to redo that bed every year there is almost always a bloom on the biggest banana. Around here bananas are largely six months on and six months off. I haven't gotten cold storage down yet and so the one all time indoor plant was the first to give me a flower.

It definitely appears to be a Cavendish, probably dwarf. There are many varieties in the Cavendish family. Grown commercially in Central America. Most likely the banana you buy in the grocery store is a Cavendish.

In your zone, Basjoo is the only banana that will have a chance of survival in the ground with protection. All others will have to be lifted like the ones at your university.

Steve

Thank you for the thorough help. I have waited several years for the opportunity to even ask. I will feel more confident now showing my Dwarf Cavendish instead of my "I think they're Dwarf Cavendish."

You're welcome and I should congratulate you on your bloom. Many a person would have given up long ago.

Steve