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Suicide Palm-Tree found on Madagascar

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Travel Articles >> Curiosities Travel Articles >> Locations >> Africa >> Madagascar

The scientists have discovered a new kind of giant suicide palm-trees growing on the Madagascar island. As told by BBC, the huge tree spends so much energy during the blossom, that in the end it dies.

The palm-tree with the height of 20 meters and with the length of leaves of 5 meters is the biggest tree on the island, and the biggest part of its life, which is 100 years, differs from its fellow creatures only by its sizes. The local residents knew about the existence of this palm-tree, but till this moment no one managed to see it blooming.

“First, there appears a long sprout, resembling asparagus stalls, at the top of the tree. And few weeks later this sprout begins blossoming out.” – described the process of blooming Mijoro Rakotoarinivo, the employee of London Kew Royal Botanic Garden. “Finally, the palm starts looking like a Christmas tree” – the scientist added.

The scientist John Dransfield has announced the discovery of new kind of palm-trees, named Tahina spectabilis; translated from local language this means “holy” or “protected”. According to the scientist, it is yet unclear how could the tree, resembling the palms that grow in Asia, has appeared on Madagascar. Probably, the tree has undergone the evolution from the moment when Madagascar separated from Indian peninsula.

The scientists reckon on the fact, that the selling of tree’s seeds will become the additional source of earnings for local peasants, and the gardening fans from all over the world will have the possibility to raise a giant suicide palm-tree.

Madagascar is the home for more than 10 thousand kinds of plants, 90% of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

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	Suicide Palm-Tree found on Madagascar

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Article Submitted On: January 20, 2008