Ravenala Explained

Ravenala is a genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants. Classically, the genus was considered to include a single species, Ravenala madagascariensis from Madagascar.

Taxonomy

Species of the genus Ravenala are not true palms (family Arecaceae) but members 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).

Etymology

The scientific name Ravenala comes from Malagasy ravinala or ravina ala meaning "forest leaves".^{[1] [2]}

Species

Although formerly considered to be monotypic, four different forms have been distinguished.^{[3] [4]} Five new species were described in 2021, all from Madagascar.^[5] The following species are currently recognised in the genus Ravenala:^[6]

• Ravenala agatheae
• Ravenala blancii
• Ravenala grandis
• Ravenala hladikorum
• Ravenala madagascariensis
• Ravenala menahirana

External links

• Madacamp.com/Ravinala

Notes and References

1. Encyclopedia: reniala. Pierre. Boiteau. Dictionnaire des noms malgaches de végétaux. fr. de ravina : feuille, et ala : forêt.... 1997. Editions Alzieu. III. Malagasy Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Madagascar. 2022-09-17. 2022-09-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171036/https://en.mondemalgache.org/bins/teny2/reniala. dead.
2. Sargent. Charles Sprague . 1893 . Garden and Forest: A Journal of Horticulture, Landscape Art and Forestry . Garden and Forest Publishing Company . 6 . 282 .
3. Les formes sympatriques et allopatriques du genre Ravenala dans les forêts et les milieux ouverts de l'est de Madagascar. Revue d'Écologie, Terre et Vie. Patrick Blanc . Nelson Rabenandrianina . Annette Hladik . Claude Marcel Hladik . amp . 54. 1999. 3 . 201–223. 10.3406/revec.1999.2292 . 163071446 .
4. Book: The Natural History of Madagascar. Strelitziaceae: The variants of Ravenala in natural and anthropogenic habitats. P. Blanc . A. Hladik . N. Rabenandrianina . J.S. Robert . C.M. Hladik . Goodman, S.M.. Benstead, J.. 472–476. 2003. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago & London..
5. Haevermans . Thomas . Hladik . Annette . Hladik . Claude-Marcel . Razanatsoa . Jacqueline . Haevermans . Agathe . Jeannoda . Vololoniaina . Blanc . Patrick . Description of five new species of the Madagascan flagship plant genus Ravenala (Strelitziaceae) . Scientific Reports . Springer Science and Business Media LLC . 11 . 1 . 2021-11-09 . 2045-2322 . 10.1038/s41598-021-01161-1 . 21965. 34753985 . 8578647 . 2021NatSR..1121965H .
6. Web site: Ravenala Adans. Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2024-02-22 . Plants of the World Online . en.