Ravenala madagascariensis

Sonn.

Traveller's palm, Traveller's tree

Strelitziaceae Edible: Seeds, Leaves, Fruit, Cabbage, Seeds oil 3,894 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Ravenala madagascariensis, commonly known as the traveller's tree, fan palm, traveller's palm or East-West palm, is a species of monocotyledonous flowering plant found in Madagascar. It is not a true palm but a member of the family Strelitziaceae. In tropical and subtropical regions, the plant is widely cultivated for its distinctive habit and foliage.

Description

An evergreen shrub. It grows to 10-16 m high and spreads to 3-6 m across. The stem is erect, formed by the bases of the old leaves. It is palm like. The leaves are arranged in 2 opposite rows on long leaf stalks which form sheaths around the stem. They are 5 m long, are closely overlapping and open like fans. They are paddle shaped. The flowers are white and have 3 petals. They occur in long spikes and have boat shaped bracts in the axils. The fruit capsules contain seeds with a bright blue seed covering (aril). The seeds are edible.

Edible Uses

The fat from the fleshy seed layer is used in cooking. Sugary sap is extracted from the trunk. The seeds are eaten whole or ground into flour. The watery sap in enlarged leaf bases is also consumed.

Traditional Uses

The fat found in the fleshy layer around the seeds is used in cooking. Sugary sap is extracted from the trunk. The seeds are eaten. A kind of flour is made from them. There is watery sap in the enlarged leaf bases.

Medicinal Uses

The seed oil is reported to be antiseptic.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It does best in rich, moist soil. It needs a protected, sunny, warm position. It is damaged by drought and frost. It grows from sea level to 1,000 m altitude in Madagascar. It needs a temperature above 16-18°C. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Burkina Faso, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Fiji, Ghana, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Madagascar*, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or by division of suckers. Seeds grow slowly.

Propagation

Seed - slow to germinate. Seed is best sown in a moist, sandy soil at 20°c. Seedlings of 2 - 6 months old are planted in a rich, deep, loamy soil in full sunlight, incorporating organic matter into the soil at planting time in order to prevent the roots drying out. Division of offshoots. Suckers grow at irregular intervals, close to the parental stem. Rooted suckers can be separated at the beginning of the rainy season, and are planted directly into fertile soil for quick growth.

Other Uses

The leaves are used for roofing and as a packing material. The leaf petioles and midribs are used for making walls. The bark is used for making floors in houses. The stem is used in house construction.

Notes

There is one Ravenala species.

Also Known As

Chuei re quat, Fontsy, Kluay-phat, Ohn-nget-pyaw, Ointsy, Panthopadop, Pisang kipas, Pokok travelers, Ravenala, Ravinala, Ravinamafy

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