Ravenala
Habit with inflorescence
The Traveller's Tree ( Ravenala madagascariensis ) is the only species of the monotypic genus Ravenala from the family of Strelitziaceae ( Strelitziaceae ).
Features
The perennial herbaceous plant reaches stature heights of 10 to 15 meters and has a palm-like stem, not lignified.
The leaves are up to 3 meters long and are divided into leaf blade (main part) and long petioles, which in the barge -like leaf base of the dense leaves (lower part of the leaf) come together (stylized in the logo of Air Madagascar ). In the base of the leaf rain water, which can be obtained by puncturing the leaf substrate, which has given the tree as a water dispenser in the emergency collects his name. As drinking water but this is only suitable because it is usually contaminated ( rotted leaves, mosquito larvae, dead animals). Another explanation for the name is the fact that the leaves can tend to grow in an east-west direction and thus provide some guidance.
The inflorescences are produced in the leaf axils. They protrude from the tuft of leaves and are well adapted to a bird pollination ( Ornithophilie ). In the axils of the boat- shaped bracts are numerous flowers with six white to yellowish bloom cladding and six stamens and three carpels are fused into an ovary. The pollinating bird sits down on one of the covers and now has to deep forward bend to reach the nectar in the flower under him of the same inflorescence. By touching the flower opens explosively and showered while the breast of the bird with pollen, which he then carries to the next flower. The flowers of Ravenala also be of lemurs attended the feast on nectar while also pollinate the flowers. The Traveller's Tree is one of the few plants that is pollinated by mammals.
It is made dreifächrige, woody capsule fruit that is up to 8 cm long; it is seeds are blue envelope ( aril ).
Dissemination
The species is endemic to Madagascar, but now widely used as an ornamental plant in the tropics. He is regarded as the heraldic tree of Madagascar.
Use
The long-stalked leaves are used for thatching, the veining as building material. The starchy seeds and young leaves are edible. The halved and hollowed-out trunk of Ravenala is used in Madagascar traditionally used for thatching.
Pictures
Fruit stand.
Ravenala in Singapore.
Ravenala in Singapore ( strain).