Ravenala madagascariensis

Ravenala madagascariensis, commonly known as Traveller's Tree or Traveller's Palm, is a species of banana plant from Madagascar. It is not a true palm (family Arecaceae) but a member of the bird-of-paradise family, Strelitziaceae.

Name

It has been given the name "traveller's palm" because the sheaths of the stems hold rainwater, which can be used as an emergency drinking supply. The enormous paddle-shaped leaves are borne on long petioles, in a distinctive fan shape aligned in a single plane. The large white flowers are structurally similar to those of its relatives, the bird-of-paradise flowers Strelitzia reginae and Strelitzia nicolai, but less attractive. In tropical and subtropical regions, the plant is widely cultivated for its distinctive habit and foliage.

Ravenala madagascariensis is the sole member of its genus, and is closely related to the southern African genus Strelitzia and the South American genus Phenakospermum. Some older classifications include these genera in the banana family (Musaceae).

Ruffed lemurs are a known pollinator of this plant, and given the size and structure of the inflorescences, as well as the lemur's selectivity, method of feeding, and long muzzle, this relationship is thought to have co-evolved.

Physical appearance

Foliage

The Travelers Palm has paddle-shaped leaves which are lined symmetrically on a plane. This symmetry gives a fan-like shape to the Travelers Palm. The color of the Travelers Palm varies from the tip of the leaves, which are green, to the end of the leaf stem, which is yellow.

Trunk

It has a trunk which emerges as it matures. During its early years the trunk of the Travelers Palm is underneath the ground, but as the Travelers palm grows older, it loses some of its fan-like leaves and reveals a brown rigid trunk.

Culture

The plant requires a sunny spot (not full sun until it is larger). It responds well to fertiliser, especially if it is high in nitrogen during the growing season. This produces better growth and foliage. The plant grows to an average height of 7 meters and requires moderate water.

Translation

The phrase "Ravenala madagascariensis" occurs as such in the following languages: English, Spanish, Italian.

Translation(s) in other languages: Arabic: موز كاذب, Bulgarian: Дърво на пътешественика, German: Baum der Reisenden, French: Arbre du voyageur, Icelandic: Ferðamannapálmi, Georgian: მოგზაურთა ხე, Dutch: Reizigersboom, Japanese: タビビトノキ, Portuguese: Árvore-do-viajante, Swedish: De resandes träd, Thai: กล้วยพัด, Vietnamese: Chuối rẻ quạt, Chinese: 旅人蕉.