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Glite Dictionary
traveler's tree

traveler's tree

1 9.9
A tall tropical plant with fan-shaped leaves that stores clear drinkable sap in its stems
  • noun
  • /ˈtrævələrz tri/
  • US
: árbol del viajero
  • The traveler's tree is a striking feature of Madagascar’s landscape, easily recognized by its large, fan-shaped leaves.

Examples

  • Explorers relied on the traveler's tree for water when no fresh sources were available.

  • A mature traveler's tree can reach impressive heights, making it a popular ornamental plant in tropical gardens.

  • The traveler's tree is found in Madagascar.

  • Many tourists admire the traveler's tree for its unique shape.

  • Explorers relied on the traveler's tree for water when no fresh sources were available.

  • A mature traveler's tree can reach impressive heights, making it a popular ornamental plant in tropical gardens.

  • The traveler's tree is a striking feature of Madagascar’s landscape, easily recognized by its large, fan-shaped leaves.

Synonyms

Ravenala madagascariensis
vstraveler's tree
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Large tree-like plant from Madagascar with fan-shaped leaves, nuts you can eat, and leaf stalks that give drinkable sap

is the common name of the same plant rather than the scientific species form
ravenala
vstraveler's tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall tropical plant from Madagascar with fan-shaped leaves and drinkable sap in its leafstalks

is used as a scientific genus or species name rather than the common name

Surface Forms

traveler's tree singular
traveler's trees plural
traveller's trees plural
traveller's tree singular

Morphology

traveler + tree

The possessive composition 'traveler's tree' is directly interpretable as a type of tree associated with or useful to travelers, so a B1 learner who knows 'traveler' and 'tree' can infer it denotes a particular kind of tree linked to travelers. They may not deduce detailed botanical features or the exact species, but the core associative meaning is transparently derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Traveler's tree got its name from a simple, useful trick: the plant's large, fan-shaped leaves have thick stalks that hold clear sap people could 'drink' in an emergency. One popular story says travelers used that sap as a 'water source' on long journeys, so the plant became known as the traveler's tree.