| West-Indian Arrowroot |
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Botanical name: Maranta arundinacea Family: Marantaceae (Arrowroot family)
Synonyms: Maranta sylvatica
Synonyms: Maranta sylvatica
West-Indian Arrowroot is a perennial plant growing
to about 2 feet tall. It has small white flowers and fruits
approximately the size and shape of currants. The rootstocks are dug
when the plant is one year old, and often exceed 1 foot in length and
1.9 cm in diameter. They are yellowish white, jointed and covered with
loose scales. The numerous, ovate, smooth leaves are 5-25 cm long, with
long sheaths often enveloping the stem.West-Indian Arrowroot is native
to South America, but widely cultivated in the tropical world.
Medicinal uses: 
West-Indian Arrowroot is chiefly valuable as an easily digested,
nourishing diet for convalescents, especially in bowel complaints, as
it has demulcent properties.
West-Indian Arrowroot is chiefly valuable as an easily digested,
nourishing diet for convalescents, especially in bowel complaints, as
it has demulcent properties. | Identification credit: Manu Nair | Photographed in Kannur, Kerala. |
• Is this flower misidentified? If yes,