[Smart Farmers] How did this plant, which is older than dinosaurs, become a "giant" in arid environments?

One inflorescence weighs 40 kilograms! How outrageous is the largest herb in the world? It is the traveler's palm. What is its mystery? What are its "miraculous" characteristics? Let's unveil the mystery of the traveler's palm and explore the secrets of its growth.

The size of the traveler's palm is a giant in the plant world. It can grow up to 30 meters tall, taller than many trees. Not only that, its leaves can be more than one meter long, like a giant fan, giving people a cool feeling. The shape and color of these leaves are very special, long oval, dark green, with golden stripes on the edges, which makes people shine.

In addition to these remarkable morphological features, the traveler's palm also has a unique water storage mechanism. Its branches are like a one-way closed pipe. When rain falls, water will naturally flow into it and be stored. This feature enables the traveler's palm to survive in arid environments. Even more amazing is that this pipe has a special "automatic repair" function. When the branches of the traveler's palm are damaged, it will secrete a special mucus to repair the wound. This repair process makes the vitality of the traveler's palm more vigorous.

The flowering and fruiting period of the traveler's palm is concentrated from July to November. During the flowering period, small flowers bloom one after another, forming a beautiful landscape.

When the fruit is ripe, it has a unique taste and flavor. The native place of the traveler's palm is Madagascar, and it is also the national tree of the country. In this country, the traveler's palm is often portrayed as a "life-saving tree" because people believe it can provide hope for life. It is praised as an oasis in the desert and provides people with precious water during the dry season.

After reading this article, are you also attracted by the magical charm of the traveler's palm? With its tall body and unique shape, the traveler's palm shows us the endless charm of nature. However, facing the threats of climate change, environmental destruction and human activities, we can't help but worry about the future of these precious plant resources. So, let's take action together and pay more attention to and protect these precious plant resources in our lives!

Produced by: Science Popularization China, Smart Farmers, Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, National Tropical Plant Germplasm Resource Bank, Guangming.com

Scientific review: Institute of Spice and Beverages, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences

Producer: Qin Xiaowei, Zhan Zhao

Co-ordinator: Xie Xiang, Wu Yuetong, Zhao Huiyang

Planning: Wei Lai

Guest: Huang Jingping

Filming and Production: Lai Yuhao

Copy editor: Wu Yuetong Hou Siyu (internship)