Ravenala madagascariensis

Cultivation Details

Prefers a fertile, moist, but well-drained soil in a sunny or partially shaded position^[1]. The leaves are shredded by the wind unless the plant is grown in a sheltered position^[1]. The leaves at the base of a new shoot often consist often only of sheaths. Each new leaf grows up inside the sheath of the preceding one, the blade being tightly rolled. A fully expanded leaf is often slightly unequal-sided, or the base of the blade is asymmetrical^[2]. It takes up to 10 years before first flowering, but because traveller’s palm is planted for its foliage this does not distract from its ornamental value^[2]. Every 2 - 3 days, a new flower opens in an inflorescence, the total number of open flowers being variable; up to 29 have been counted. The flowers normally open at night^[2]. Nectar production is copious, with maximum production at midnight. In Madagascar, traveller’s palm is pollinated predominantly by several lemur species, e.g. the ruffled lemur (Varecia variegata) and the black lemur (Eulemur macaco). Lemurs appear to be highly dependent on the nectar of traveller’s palm during specific times of the year. In areas outside the natural range, flowers are often visited by large bats, such as Pteropus alecto gouldii and Macroglossus lagochilus, as well as honeyeater birds^[2]. Four distinct forms of this plant have been observed in the wild:- The first form, locally called 'malama', is rather rare. It grows in the understorey of undisturbed submontane rain forest. The juvenile phase is characterized by a secondarily spiral arrangement of the leaves, a long-decurrent leaf blade, the absence of a petiole, and the arrangement of the leaves to forma torus; the adult phase has a fan-like crown^[2]. The second form, 'hiranirana', is more abundant. It grows in forest gaps and disturbed primary forest. The juvenile phase is more similar to the usual fan-like form, with well-developed petioles and a relatively wide leaf blade, and a slight and regularly alternate arrangement of the leaves, persisting in the adult phase^[2]. The third form, 'bemavo' is the most common form. It grows on deforested slopes at elevations between 300 - 600 metres, and forms the Ravenala forests. All phases show a fan-like crown. This is the form that is mostly used for construction purposes^[2]. The fourth form, 'horonorona' grows in deforested lowland sites, on either poorly or well-drained soils, and is different from the other three in that it stays rather small and develops many suckers. It is the form that is most commonly cultivated as an ornamental^[2].