Traveller's Palm
Ravenala madagascariensis
-18.7669, 46.8691
Field Notes
Description:
The traveller's palm has paddle-shaped leaves which are lined symmetrically on a plane and this symmetry gives it a fan-like shape.
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,
Habitat:
More on the eastern wetter side of the island. These are the first trees to colonize an area after it's been burned or clearcut.
Notes:
The Traveller's Palm is often seen in growing in the tropics around the world but it is native to Madagascar. I've heard it got it's name due to the fact that the angle of the leaves allows them to hold a lot of water and a stranded thristy traveller can drink from them. I've also seen nocturnal lemurs visit them.
Comments (0)
Be the first to comment
Sign in to comment