to 3 m, stems dark green, inflorescence node deep purple-maroon, bracts green flushed maroon, fruit pale green Project web address: www.inbio.ac.cr/pila-darwin/
Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia.Calathea lutea (Aubl.) Schult. Marantaceae. CN: [Malay - Calathea cokelat], Pampano, Cigar Calathea, Habana cigar, Cuban cigar. Native to Mexico, Mesoamerica, Caribbean, northern and western South America; elsewhere cultivated. Source of fiber, wax, wrapping, ornamental. Plant produces a reddish-brown inflorescence of waxy, nested bracts resembling a long cigar. Pleated, oval shaped leaves have a silvered underside and are wide and attractive. Small, yellow flowers will peek from the bracts as they mature.Synonym(s):Maranta lutea Aubl. (basionym)Calathea cachibou (Jacq.) Lindl. ex Horan.Calathea discolor G.Mey.Maranta disticha Buc'hozPhrynium luteum (Aubl.) Sweetand many more; see The Plant List www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-223119Ref and suggested reading:www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-223119www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?8416agrifloratropicals.com/Calathea-lutea-Cigar-Calathea-P342...
In both the Amazon basin and highlands of Ecuador and Peru, the leaves are use to wrap items for cooking. Photo from the Omaere Etnobotanical Garden, Puyo, Ecuador.
Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.Calathea makoyana E. Morren. Maranthaceae. CN: [Malay - Pokok merak], Brainplant, cathedral-windows, Peacockplant. Native of Brazil; elsewhere planted as ornamental. Synonym(s):Maranta makoyana (E. Morren) K. Schum.Ref and suggested reading:www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?8417en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calathea_makoyana
The Rattlesnake Plant is native from Central America to Ecuador and Brazil. It is more likely to be encountered as a house plant, however. Blodel Conservatory, Vancouver.
Kampung Hilir, Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia.Maranta arundinacea L. Marantaceae. CN: [Malay - Ubi sagu belanda, Ubi larut (sharing name with Canna indica), Ubi bemban, Ubi garut, Ubi sagu], Arrowroot. Exact native range in neotropics obscure; widely cultivated in tropics. Source of food and folk medicines.Synonym(s):Maranta arundinacea var. indica (Tussac) Petersen Maranta arundinacea f. sylvestris Matuda Maranta arundinacea var. variegatum (N.E. Br.)Maranta indica Tussac Maranta ramosissima Wall.Maranta silvatica Roscoe Maranta sylvatica Roscoe ex Sm.Maranta tessellata var. kegeljanii E.Morren Phrynium variegatum N.E.Br. [Unplaced]Ref. and suggested reading"www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-253261www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?23393en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrowrootwww.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN...