Maranta (genus)

Maranta (genus)
Maranta
Maranta leuconeura
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Marantaceae
Genus: Maranta

Maranta, is a genus of evergreen low growing plants native to tropical areas such as Southwest Asia, and the West Indies. The genus is part of the Marantaceae family which also contains other genera such as Calathea and Stromanthe. Maranta was named for Bartolommeo Maranti, an Italian physician and botanist of the sixteenth century. M. arundinacea is cultivated for Arrowroot which is obtained from the roots.

About 20 species are usually recognised. They are have rhizomes and naturally form perennial clumps. The leaves are undivided with sheathing stalks. The flowers are small with three petals with two larger petal-like staminodes.

Cultivation

Some species such as Maranta leuconeura and Maranta arundinacea are grown as common houseplants in a warmish house or conservatory environment. They can be propagated through cuttings (2 - 3 leaves) or by root division.

Species

  • Maranta arundinacea L. - Arrowroot
  • Maranta bicolor from Brazil and Guyana
  • Maranta leuconeura E.Morren Prayer-Plant
  • Maranta bicolor Ker Gawl.

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Maranta — can refer to: The Marantaceae family of prayer plants , including arrowroot Maranta (genus), a genus within that family Maranta as a personal name may refer to: In author citation (botany), Maranta is Bartolomeo Maranta, the 16th century botanist …   Wikipedia

  • Maranta — Ma*ran ta, prop. n. [NL.] (Bot.) A genus of endogenous plants found in tropical America, and some species also in India. They have tuberous roots containing a large amount of starch, and from one species ({Maranta arundinacea}, the American… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Maranta arundinacea — Maranta Ma*ran ta, prop. n. [NL.] (Bot.) A genus of endogenous plants found in tropical America, and some species also in India. They have tuberous roots containing a large amount of starch, and from one species ({Maranta arundinacea}, the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • maranta — [mə rän′tə] n. any of a genus (Maranta) of plants of the arrowroot family, esp. a variety ( M. leuconeura kerchoveana) with spotted red leaves …   English World dictionary

  • maranta — noun any of numerous herbs of the genus Maranta having tuberous starchy roots and large sheathing leaves • Hypernyms: ↑herb, ↑herbaceous plant • Hyponyms: ↑arrowroot, ↑American arrowroot, ↑obedience plant, ↑Maranta arundinaceae …   Useful english dictionary

  • maranta — ma·ran·ta mə ran tə n 1 a) cap a genus (family Marantaceae) of tropical American herbs with tuberous starchy roots b) any plant of the genus Maranta: ARROWROOT (1a) 2) the edible starch obtained from the roots of a plant of the genus Maranta (M.… …   Medical dictionary

  • Maranta arundinacea — Arrowroot Ar row*root , n. 1. (Bot.) A white flowered west Indian plant of the genus {Maranta}, esp. {Maranta arundinacea}, now cultivated in many hot countries. Its root yields {arrowroot starch}. It said that the Indians used the roots to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Maranta arundinacea — Arrowroot Ar row*root , n. 1. (Bot.) A white flowered west Indian plant of the genus {Maranta}, esp. {Maranta arundinacea}, now cultivated in many hot countries. Its root yields {arrowroot starch}. It said that the Indians used the roots to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • maranta — [mə rantə] noun 1》 a tropical American plant of a genus which includes the prayer plant and the arrowroot. [Genus Maranta.] 2》 a calathea (plant). Origin mod. L., named after a 16th cent. Italian herbalist, Bartollomeo Maranta …   English new terms dictionary

  • genus Maranta — noun herbs of tropical America • Hypernyms: ↑monocot genus, ↑liliopsid genus • Member Holonyms: ↑Marantaceae, ↑family Marantaceae, ↑arrowroot family • Member Meronyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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