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arrowroot

Maranta arundinacea L.

Family: Marantaceae · Genus: Maranta

obedience plant, Bermuda arrowroot

Placenta II Low No biomass production
CC BY-SA · Wikimedia Commons

Perennial tropical tuber crop whose starch is traditionally used in porridges and biscuits. EcoAgri lists it in the low stratum of the 'up to 3 years' bin. Tolerates partial shade; ideal under mature bananas and palms.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Placenta II
Ecological role
Pioneer
Primary stratum
Low
Strata
Low, Ground cover
Biomass class
No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement
Partial shade
Water requirement
High
Drought tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
5.5–6.5
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Sandy

Morphology

Mature height
0.5–1.5 m
Root system
Fibrous
Root depth
Shallow
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
≤ 3 years
Time to first harvest
11 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Arrowroot takes the Low stratum in the Placenta II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High Medium Low · ≈2 m Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Prefers friable, moist, well-drained soils with pH 5.5–6.5 (tolerates 5–8), in full sun or half-shade; loose soils ease rhizome development and harvest. Ideal rainfall 1,500–2,000 mm. Propagated by rhizome division; harvested in 10–12 months, once the tops die back.

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of arrowroot?

The first harvest of arrowroot comes around 11 months after planting.

How tall does arrowroot grow?

At maturity, arrowroot reaches 0.5–1.5 m tall.

What stage and stratum does arrowroot occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, arrowroot belongs to the placenta ii stage, occupying the low stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit

Propagation

Division

Citations

  1. EcoAgri — Organização de algumas espécies vegetais por tempo de vida (placentas) e estrato (Cartilha 'Liberdade e Vida com Agrofloresta') , p. 2 (primary_stratum, gotsch_stage)
  2. Useful Tropical Plants — Maranta arundinacea (ph_min, ph_max, height_max_m, light_need, water_need, root_system, root_depth, propagation, time_to_first_harvest_months, soil_texture_preference, cultivation_notes)
  3. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Maranta arundinacea L. (gbif_taxon_key, family, genus)

External references

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