traveler's tree
    n 1: giant treelike plant having edible nuts and leafstalks that
         yield a refreshing drink of clear watery sap; reputedly an
         emergency source of water for travelers [syn: traveler's
         tree, traveller's tree, ravenala, Ravenala
         madagascariensis]

Ravenala \Rav`e*na"la\ (r[a^]v`[-e]*n[aum]"l[.a]), n.
   [Malagasy.] (Bot.)
   A genus of plants related to the banana.
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   Note: Ravenala Madagascariensis, the principal species, is
         an unbranched tree with immense oarlike leaves growing
         alternately from two sides of the stem. The sheathing
         bases of the leafstalks collect and retain rain water,
         which flows freely when they are pierced with a knife,
         whence the plant is called traveler's tree.
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Traveler \Trav"el*er\, n. [Written also traveler.]
   1. One who travels; one who has traveled much.
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   2. A commercial agent who travels for the purpose of
      receiving orders for merchants, making collections, etc.
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   3. (Mach.) A traveling crane. See under Crane.
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   4. (Spinning) The metal loop which travels around the ring
      surrounding the bobbin, in a ring spinner.
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   5. (Naut.) An iron encircling a rope, bar, spar, or the like,
      and sliding thereon.
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   Traveler's joy (Bot.), the Clematis vitalba, a climbing
      plant with white flowers.

   Traveler's tree. (Bot.) See Ravenala.
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