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".
Species
Although formerly considered to be
monotypic, four different forms have been distinguished.
Five new species were described in 2021, all from Madagascar.
[ ] The following species are currently recognised in the genus
Ravenala:
External links
