20 



-NATAL ARROWEOOT. 

 Nat. Oed. — Marantacese. 



The cultivation of the various species of 

 Maranta, yielding Arrowroot, has now been 

 carried on for some years in our South African 

 Colonies with considerable success, and Natal or 

 African Arrowroot occupies an important commer- 

 cial position, being met with quite as often as 

 the West Indian varieties. 



The cultivation of the plant has resulted in 

 a considerable alteration in the physical characters 

 of the Starch, so much so that one can be 

 distinguished from the other with comparative 

 ease. The granules more nearly approach to a 

 circular form, the concentric lines are much more 

 distinct, and the hilum is in most cases circular 

 and prominent ; comparatively few exhibit the 

 slit-shaped hilum common in the West Indian 

 kinds. 



There appears to be no fundamental differ- 

 ence in the dietetic value of these Arrowroots, 

 any that may exist probably arises from more or 

 less care having been used in the process of 

 washing and consequent absence or presence of 

 foreign matter. 



