Traveler’s-tree is a tropical evergreen that resembles a giant fan. These trees grow more than 40 feet (12 meters) tall and have huge, oblong leaves up to 10 feet (3 meters) long. The leaves spread out in a single row from an unbranched trunk. A deep trough at the base of each leaf collects up to 1 quart (0.95 liter) of rain water. Travelers can drink this water in an emergency.
The traveler’s-tree grows wild in Madagascar, an African island country. People use the trunk for wood and the leaves as roofing material.
