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Family: Strelitziaceae
Genus: Ravenala
Order: Zingiberales
Species: R. madagascariensis
Common Names: screw pine, pandanus palm or screw palm
Parts Used: heart and seeds
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PLANT DESCRIPTION |
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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).
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Other Uses:
It has been given the name "traveller's palm" because the paddle-shaped leaves catch water and sheaths of the stems hold the 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.
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