Maranta arundinacea
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Maranta arundinacea fm sylvestris
- Maranta arundinacea var indica
- Maranta indica
- Maranta minor
- Maranta ramosissima
- Maranta sylvatica
- Description
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Arrowroot (Maranta arundicacea) is a plant of moist areas native in a range from Mexico to Brazil. The common name, Arrowroot, comes from its use as a poultice to remove poison from arrow wounds. Its scientific names are more prosaic. Maranta comes from Bartolomea Maranta a 16th C Italian physician and botanist. Arundinacea refers to the reed or cane like form of the stems. This plant, which has mid-green leaves and white flowers, grows in partial shade near or in the margins of water. It is home to or food for many organisms from butterflies to microscopic ones. The rhizomatous root is a source of starch and in the early 1800s it was commercially grown in Georgia and South Carolina. It is still grown commercially on St Vincent Island in the Caribbean.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Maranta arundinacea 'Variegata'
White and green leaves
- Maranta arundinacea 'Variegata'
- Maranta arundinacea 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Maranta arundinacea 'Variegata'
White and green leaves
- Maranta arundinacea 'Variegata'
- Maranta arundinacea 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Maranta
- Species:
- arundinacea
- Family:
- Marantaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The root of this plant is a source of starch. This starch can be used internally against ingested poison or externally to extract poison from a wound. As it is easily digestible it can be fed to infants, invalids, and those allergic to wheat.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico to Tropical America
- Distribution:
- Continental US; Central America; West Indies; Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Guyana, Peru; parts of Africa near Nigeria; India, Sumatra. The Philippines
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant serves as food for the larval stage of Leguminivora glycinivorella, the Soybean Moth; Rhinthon cubana, the Cuban Skipper; Spodptera litura the moth form of Tobacco Cutworm and Cotton Leafworm; Cynea irma the Fogged Skipper; Calpodes ethlius, the Calpodes Skipper; and Saliana fusta, Suffused Salina. It is also host to a large number of fungi and bacteria.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- asymmetrical petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers of the arrowroot are up made up a curved tube about half an inch long, ending with two large petals at the bottom and others forming a 'fan' shape across the top. In some ways it resembles a very small penstemon or gloxinia flower with its 'landing pad' for pollinators. The flowers come in pairs at the end of long thin stems about 2 inches long.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
