Ravenala Madagascariensis

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Ravenala madagascariensis, commonly known as Traveller's Tree or Traveller's Palm, is a species of plant from Madagascar. It is not a true palm (family Arecaceae) but a member of the bird-of-paradise family, Strelitziaceae. 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). 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, and also because the fan tends to grow in an east-west line, providing a crude compass.