Palm trees have been described as the big game of the plant kingdom (Bailey in 1933 quoted by Tomlinson 1961). These trees and other perennial tree crops like rubber and cocoa are similarly impressive, largely because of the total productivity that their longevity delivers. The high value of each individual tree over its productive lifetime, and the high costs of replanting, means that the trees must be diligently nurtured and protected. Bananas are a perennial herb rather than a tree, and new plantings become productive in a relatively short period of time, but optimal production is also dependent on the density of tree populations.