Table 1.
Different uses of Ravenala madagascariensis recorded among the local people in Ambalabe with their frequency
| Use category | Uses | Parts used | Frequency (%) | Salience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human food |
Cooked as vegetable |
Heart |
57.8 |
0.394 |
| Animal food |
Fodder for domestic animals (zebu) |
Heart |
1.7 |
0.003 |
| Construction |
Floor |
Trunk |
64.7 |
0.461 |
| Roofs |
Leaves |
50 |
0.404 |
|
| Wall |
Petioles and trunk |
42.2 |
0.303 |
|
| Beehives |
Trunk |
3.4 |
0.024 |
|
| Chicken coops |
Leaves |
1.7 |
0.012 |
|
| Gable |
Trunk |
0.9 |
0.009 |
|
| Doors |
Petioles |
0.9 |
0.003 |
|
| Environmental uses |
Cultivated in the garden as ornamental plant |
Whole plant |
0.9 |
0.002 |
| Medicinal and veterinary |
Dizziness |
Young leaves |
1.7 |
0.011 |
| Stomach-ache |
Young leaves |
1.7 |
0.006 |
|
| Regulates albumin levels |
Heart |
0.9 |
0.003 |
|
| Utensils and tools |
Ropes and moorings |
Petiole fibers |
25.9 |
0.112 |
| Winnowing trays |
Petioles |
15.5 |
0.066 |
|
| Spoons |
Leaves |
9.5 |
0.016 |
|
| Baskets |
Petioles |
3.4 |
0.03 |
|
| Fishing nets |
Leaf rachis |
3.4 |
0.027 |
|
| Mats |
Petioles |
2.6 |
0.017 |
|
| Cupboard |
Trunk |
0.9 |
0.006 |
|
| Chicken baskets |
Petioles |
0.9 |
0.005 |
|
| Beds |
Trunk |
0.9 |
0.004 |
|
| Mat for food and market display |
Fresh, whole leaf |
0.9 |
0.004 |
|
| Dishes |
Leaves |
0.9 |
0.004 |
|
| Tables |
Trunk |
0.9 |
0.002 |
|
| Other uses | Hosts edible larvae | Trunk | 0.9 | 0.006 |