although it is commonly known
as the Traveller’s Palm it is not a true palm. I had to search (the net) for quite
a while to come to the conclusion that it’s a Ravenala madagascariensis which
is a member of the Strelitziaceae family of monocotyledonous flowering plants
which are closely related and similar in appearance to the Heliconiaceae and
Musaceae (banana family). According to Wikipedia; "It has been given the name
"traveller's palm" because the sheaths of the stems hold rainwater, which
supposedly could be used as an emergency drinking supply for needy travellers.
However, the water inside the plant is murky, black and smelly and should not be
consumed without purification. Another plausible reason for its name is that the
fan tends to grow in an north-south line, providing a crude compass. The scientific
name Ravenala comes from Malagasy ravinala meaning "forest leaves"."