West Indian Arrowroot
Maranta arundinacea

Family: Marantaceae

What it is like

A perennial plant up to 2 m high with large fleshy underground rhizomes. The stem is erect. There are 4-8 leaves near the base. There are 1-8 leaves on the stem. It has large leaves on long stalks near the base. These stalks can be 3.5-20 cm long. The leaf blade is 12 cm long and the leaf stalk clasps the stem. Flowers are small and white. There can be several on each leafy shoot. They occur on the ends of branches. There are 1-2 bracts under each 2-3 flowers. The rhizomes can be 20 cm long and about 3 cm across. They are covered with fleshy scales. The fruit are capsules which are green and tinged red-brown. They are oval and 7-8 mm long by 4-5 mm wide. The seeds are brown.

There are about 32 Maranta species. There are 25 species in tropical America.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows well in hot humid climates. A temperature of 20-30°C is best. Plants grow from the coast up to 900 m altitude in the tropics. It needs a rainfall of 1500 to 2000 mm yearly. It is cultivated in S China for starch. It needs deep, well drained and slightly acid soil. It suits plant hardiness zones 10-12. Bontoc. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Brazil, Cambodia, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, East Timor, Ecuador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The rhizomes are used in soups or sauces. They can be just scraped & boiled. They can be used for making flour. It is an easily digested starchy flour. It is a good thickener in sauces. The fresh rhizomes can be stored for 7-8 days. CAUTION It is important to peel off the skin scales or they give a bitter taste to the starch.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It has mostly been grown as an experimental crop in Papua New Guinea, and is probably not widely used by village people.

Edible parts

Rhizome, root, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from pieces of rhizome or occasionally suckers. A spacing of 1 m x 0.5 m is suitable or can be closer. 3,000-3500 kg of planting material are required for one hectare. The pieces are planted 6-8 cm deep. It requires a fertile soil. Normally flowers are removed to allow as much storage as possible in the rhizomes.

Rhizomes are ready for harvest after about 11 months. Successive crops are grown in the same site for 5-7 years. Yields of 12.5 t per hectare are average. These produce 8-16% starch.

Its other names

Local names

Ai-raruut, Aloro, Amaranta, Angkrik, Ango, Apichillo, Araluk, Araratu, Araru, Ararut, Araruttukkilangu, Aroro, Aroro, Arrowroot, Aruruttukkilangu, Azafran, Bermuda arrowroot, Berolu, Chancla, Choc-u, Chok-woo, Chuk shway, Garut, Hnathel, Hoangting, Hpogimbai, Hulakiriya, Khaita alu, Koova, Kuvamavu, Kuvehittu, Kuzu ukon, Larut, Maranta, Midon, Misimisi koka'anga, Nginti ali, Palaguntha, Patat sagu, Pikaw, Saakhu, Sagu belanda, Saku, Taros metan, Tavaksha, Tavkil, Tha lairusa, Thinbaw-adalut, Tikhor, Tora alu, Ubi garut, Yuquilla

Synonyms

Maranta sylvatica Roscoe ex Smith; Phyrnium variegatum N.E.Brown;