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Spore Building - Traveller's Palm PNG

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Description

Also known as the traveller's tree, the traveller's palm (Ravenala madagascariensis) is a large monocot plant native to Madagascar. Despite its name and palm-like appearance, it is actually a member of the Strelitziaceae, the bird-of-paradise flower family. The name of the genus comes from the Malagasy word "ravinala", meaning "forest leaves".

The traveller's palm can grow up to about 7 metres in height, and is instantly recognizable by the fan of enormous leaves on long petioles (stalks). As the plant grows taller with age, the older leaves lower down wither and drop off, revealing a sturdy, grey trunk.
In the wild, the flowers of this plant are normally pollinated by ruffed lemurs.

The name "traveller's palm" is a bit of a mystery.
The sheaths of its stems hold a considerable amount of water, and a popular myth is that this water supply can be drunk by thirsty travellers in an emergency. However, this water is murky, black, and smells rancid, and is *NOT* safe for consumption without being purified first.
Another possible origin of the name is the fact that the fan of leaves tends to grow in a north-south plane (to harvest sunlight more efficiently), meaning it can potentially be used as a crude compass.

The traveller's palm is a popular ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.


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