Ravenala

Ravenala is a genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants. Classically, the genus was considered to include a single species, Ravenala madagascariensis, commonly known as the traveller's tree, traveller's palm or East-West palm, from Madagascar. It is not a true palm (family Arecaceae) but a member of the family Strelitziaceae. The genus is closely related to the southern African genus Strelitzia and the South American genus Phenakospermum. Some older classifications include these genera in the banana family (Musaceae). Although it is usually considered to be a single species, four different forms have been distinguished. Five other species were described in 2021, all from Madagascar: Ravenala agatheae Have. & Razanats., R. blancii Have., V.Jeannoda & A.Hladik, R. grandis Have., Razanats, A.Hladik & P.Blanc, R. hladikorum Have., Razanats., V. Jeannoda & P.Blanc, R. madagascariensis Sonn., et R. menahirana Have. & Razanats.