Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn. | |
Sterlitziaceae | |
Traveller’s Palm | |
| Botanical Name | Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn. |
| Synonyms | Heliconia ravenala .Willemet;Urania madagascariensis .(Sonn.) Raeusch. |
| Family | Sterlitziaceae |
| Common Name | English : Traveller’s palm / Tamil : Visirii Vazhai |
| Distribution | Global : Native Madagascar and introduced in all Tropical Countries. Indian: Through India |
| Description | Tall crown tree reach up to 30m height, trunk with characteristic leaf scar rings. Leaves paddle shaped looks like banana leaf, Petiole terminate in to large basal sheath, leaves arranged in a symmetrical one above another superimposed on either side give fan like appearance, leaf margin smooth. Inflorescence spadix. Flowers, trimerous, many, white, bract white boat shaped, sepals 3 keeled, petals 3, unequal, resembles like birds of paradise flower. Stamens 5 with 1 staminodes. Gynoecium with 6 carpel, united, ovary inferior. Fruit capsule, six valved. Seeds many, black in color, thinly covered by hairy blue aril. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | September - November |
| Uses | Highly Ornamental planted for its architectural leaf arrangement. Leaves are used for roofing, Leaf sheath holds water that can be used as emergency drinking water for travellers hence it gets the name traveller’s palm. |
| Medicinal Uses | Phytochemical studies revealed that the plant possesses antibacterial and antioxidant activity. |
| Tamil Name | Traveller’s Palm |