Volume 9 > Part 2 > Year 2008 > Page 170 > Strelitziaceae > Ravenala

Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn.wfo-0000509912

Voy. 2: 223. 1782; K.Schum. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 45: 29. 1900. Fig. 1; Plate XV: 2.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Tall tree with palm-like stem. Leaves large in fan-like crown, petiole up to 3.5 m including sheath, lamina ovate-oblong, 1.5–3.0 m long, base cordate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences lateral in the leaf-axils; peduncle up to 1 m long with 10–15 up to 50 cm long; bracts distichous, subtending 10–15-flowered cincinnae. Outer tepals free, yellowish, equal or nearly so, up to 20 cm long; 2 inner ones also equal in shape and similar to the outer ones, the posterior one smaller, 8–10 cm long. Stamens 6, with anthers longer than filaments. Fruit a banana-like capsule, up to 10 cm with numerous seeds with a blue, laciniate aril.

Thailand : Frequetly planted in parks and larger gardens. Not naturalized.

Distribution : Endemic to Madagascar. Widely cultivated in the tropics as an ornamental.

Vernacular : Kluaiphat (กล้วยพัด), kluai farang (กล้วยฝรั่ง), kluai langka (กล้วยลังกา), kluai satsana (กล้วยศาสนา)(Bangkok).

CommonName : Traveller’s tree. Named so, as the bracts and leaf bases hold rainwater useful for travellers in the arid regions of Madagascar.