1370.000 Maranta L.

Herbs, terrestrial, prostrate, scandent or upright, usually dying back to rhizome in dry season; rhizomes sometimes swollen, storing starch; stems branched or unbranched. Leaves sheath usually auriculate, not spongy; lamina (patterned) green, ovate or elliptic. Inflorescence usually 2-several per shoot, spike-like, unbranched; bracts persistent; prophylls keeled, membranous; staminoids white (purple); sepals persistent in fruit; corolla white, lobes unequal. Fruit capsules, 1 seeded, obliquely ellipsoid, pericarp thin, dehiscent. Seeds brown, ellipsoid; aril conspicuous, white.

Worldwide: 32 species in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Mexico, West Indies, Central and South America.

Zimbabwe: 1 cultivated taxon.