1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Traveller's Tree

TRAVELLER'S TREE, a remarkable tree, native of Madagascar and Réunion, with a straight stem reaching 30 ft. in height and bearing at the top a number of large long-stalked leaves which spread vertically like a fan. The leaf has a large sheath at the base in which water collects in such quantity as to yield a copious draught—hence the popular name. The plant is known botanically as Ravenala Madagascariensis and belongs to the same family as the banana (Musaceae).