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The genus Ensete used to be classified as a species under the genus Musa (bananas) but according to recent referrences has been given its own genus including seven species. I have only been able to track down two of these seven species and have included them in the table below.
They are described as having a non-branching underground stem that produces a single stalk-like cluster of leaf stems similiar to the banana plants. Does this mean they don't sucker freely like the bananas? The below listed literature describes propagation as being done by seed, thereby implying that they do not sucker from the base as do the banana plants.
They are large plants native to tropical Africa and Asia, and can reach 20ft tall or more. The leaves appear to be much longer than banana leaves, but in flowering and fruiting seem to be very similar. The small fruit are described as being dry and unpalatable. After fruiting the entire plant dies.
Kingdom: Plantae
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Cross referenced against the National Center for Biotechnology Information's Taxonomy Browser
and the Plants Database at http://plants.usda.gov/.
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Bibliography
---Brickell, Cristopher and Judith D. Zuk, 1997, The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, New York: DK Publishing, Inc., ISBN 0-7894-1943-2
---Rodale, J.I., 1965, The Encyclodedia of Organic Gardening, Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Books
---Turner, R.G. Jr., 2001, Botanica, Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Random House Australia Pty Ltd, B&N ISBN 0760716420, ISBN 1566491754
 Botanica |
 Rodale's All New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening |
 American Horticulture Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants |