ˌravəˈnālə noun
Etymology: New Latin, fr a native name in Madagascar
1. capitalized : a genus of tropical woody plants (family Musaceae) having tall trunks, oblong distichous very long-stalked leaves, and large flowers with three sepals and three petals followed by woody 3-valved capsules — see traveler's-tree
2. -s : any plant of the genus Ravenala