Marantaceae

Abstract

The Marantaceae, also called the arrowroot family and the prayer-plant family, are flowering plants, assigned to the order of Zingiberales in the clade commelinids in the monocots, consisting of 29 genera with 627 species, known for their large starchy rhizomes. The Marantaceae are considered the most evolved family due to the extreme reduction in both stamens and carpels. The plants are usually perennial herbaceous, with underground rhizomes or tubers. Aerial stems are present or absent. Leaves are distichous, large, petioles sheathing at base, and pinnately veined, and lateral veins are parallel. Inflorescences are terminal or axillary, spicate or paniculate, and enclosed spathe-like bracts. Flowers are bisexual, asymmetric, and usually paired. Sepals are three and free. Petals are three and connate basically. Staminodes and stamens are in two whorls, outer whorl with one or two petaloid staminodes, rarely absent, and with inner whorl with one hooded staminode enclosing terminal portion of pistil at anthesis. Ovary is inferior and 3-loculed. Ovules are one per locule. Styles are cylindric and adnate to inside of corolla and staminode tube. Stigmas are scoop-shaped or blunted and 3-cleft. Fruit is a capsule, loculicidal, rarely indehiscent, or berrylike. Seeds are one to three, hard, and usually with arillate from hooded staminode. Only one species, Thalia dealbata Fraser ex Roscoe, is illustrated in this chapter.