Arrowroot family
Description
A family of monocotyledonous herbs, related to the Musaceae, most of which have rhizomes or tubers, occurring in the tropics, with the greatest number in the New World (Marantaceae 1).
The leaves are pinnately nerved, the petiole base is sheathing and kneed at the top. The inflorescence is subtended by a large bract. The flowers are zygomorphic, with 3 sepals and a tubular corolla with 3 lobes, 1 stamen and an inferior ovary. The fruit is a capsule or a berry.
There are 30 genera.
Use
The rhizomes of the genus Maranta provide arrowroot; the leaves are used for baskets and thatching.
Described species
Maranta arundinacea, arrowroot
Calathea alouia, topee tambu, see Maranta arundinacea