540 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
Certain species of Maranta, especially WM. arundinucea, 
produce the Arrow-root of commerce. ‘This is a very 
pure form of starch, obtained by taking the tubers when they are about 
ten months old, macerating them with water, allowing the starchy 
matter to settle, then again washing it and allowing it to dry. The 
name is said to be derived from the fact that the Indians used the roots 
as a curative application to the wounds caused by poisoned arrows. This 
species appears to have been introduced from Tropical America at some 
date anterior to 1732; M. bicolor from Brazil in 1823, M. porteana from 
Bahia in 1859, M. sagoriana from South America, 1862, M. smaragdina 
from Eeuador in 1870, and M. concinna from South America in 1874. 
They are grown chiefly as foliage plants. 
MARANTA BICOLOR (two-coloured). Leaves roundish 
oval, glaucous green, with irregular dark shiny marks 
between the midrib and the margin. Flowers white and violet ; April to 
November. Plant 1 foot high. Plate 247. 
M. CONCINNA (neat). Dwarf and tufted. Leaves oblique-oval, pale 
green, with oblong blotches of darker green at base of the principal veins. 
M. poRTEANA (Porte’s). Erect-growing, 3 feet high. Leaves bright 
green, striped with white ; under-side purple. 
M. saGoRIANA (Sagorian). Dwarf. Leaves oblong, very pale green, 
with darker bars. 
M. SMARAGDINA (emerald). - Leaves emerald-green, with dark stripe. 
arantas require stove treatment, with plenty of 
moisture and a light, open, well-drained soil, such as a 
mixture of loam, peat, sand, and leaf-mould in equal parts, or peat and 
chopped sphagnum with dried cow-manure. They are best grown in 
ans. There are, however, several large-growing kinds in cultivation, 
and these like a strong soil and a liberal allowance of pot-room. They 
are propagated by division. The house should be shaded from the direct 
rays of the sun whilst the plants are growing. The genus Calathea is 
very closely allied, and requires similar treatment. Among the most 
desirable species may be mentioned C. arrecta (erect) from Ecuador, 
C. kerchoviana (Kerchove’s) from Brazil, C. Lindeni (Linden’s) from 
Peru, C. massangeana (Massange’s) from Brazil, C. princeps (magnificent) 
from Peru, C. tubispatha (tube-spathed) from Tropical America, C. Vanden 
Heckii (Van den Heck’s) from Brazil, C. Veitchii (Veitch’s) from Western 
Tropical America, C. Warscewiczvt (Warscewicz's) from Tropical America, 
and (. zebrina (zebra-striped) from Brazil. 
Description of Maranta bicolor, var. kerchoviana. Fig. 1, a detached 
Plate 247. flower; 2, a section of the same. 
History. 
Principal Species. 
Cultivation. 
