Maranta arundinacea L.
Vernacular name: Arrowroot, West Indian arrowroot (Hindi: अर्वारूत)
Species Name: Maranta arundinacea L.
Family: Marantaceae
Habit: Perennial erect herb
Stem: Cane-like 0.5–1.5 m tall, shallow-rooted with fleshy rhizomes 5–40 × 2–5 cm, covered in brown scales.
Leaf: Long-petiolate, ovate 15–30 × 8–15 cm, green with white variegation on the upper surface, purple below.
Flowering: Sporadic.
Flowers: Terminal panicles; sepals 3, lanceolate, 8–10 mm; 3 white hooded petals; 1 fertile stamen with a petaloid appendage (anther 1-celled); inferior, 1-locular ovary.
Fruit: Oblongoid leathery berry 7 mm, brown, containing scabrous pinkish seeds with a yellow aril.
Uses:
- Plant has soothing properties and used to treat digestive problems and skin inflammation.
- Starch content of plant is used to balance the healthy gut flora due to its prebiotic properties.
- Plant is an easily digestible dietary staple tropical tuber whose flour is gluten free.
- In cosmetic industry, it is used as alternative talcum powder due to its excess oil absorbing properties.
- Plant is used in the manufacturing of ecofriendly biodegradable films and packaging composites.
