Maranta
arundinacea
Arrowroot
Family: Marantaceae
Arrowroot flour is now produced commercially mostly in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Arrowroot was one of the earliest plants to be domesticated for food in northern
South America, with evidence of exploitation or cultivation of the plant dating
back to 8200 BCE. The name may come from aru-aru (meal of meals) in the language
of the Caribbean Arawak people, for whom the plant was a staple. It has also been
suggested that the name comes from arrowroot's use in treating poison-arrow wounds,
as it draws out the poison when applied to the site of the injury.
Arrowroot is a starch obtained from the rhizomes of several tropical plants, traditionally
Maranta arundinacea, but also Florida arrowroot from Zamia integrifolia, and tapioca
from cassava, which is often labelled as arrowroot. PART USED- Rhizome- producing
starch ACTIONS
1. Demulcent.[1]
2. Nutritive especially for infants and convalescence.[1] PREPARATIONS
Usually prepared by boiling in sufficient water to make a thin gruel, which may
be flavoured if required.[1] CONSTITUENTS: 25-27% neutral starch. The lack of gluten in arrowroot flour
makes it useful as a replacement for wheat flour in some baking uses. DESCRIPTION-
Arrowroot is a perennial plant growing to a height of 0.3-1.5 m. Its leaves are
lanceolate. The edible part of the plant is the rhizome. Twin clusters of small
white flowers bloom about 90 days after planting. The plant rarely produces seed
and reproduction is typically by planting part of a rhizome with a bud. Rhizomes
are ready for harvesting 10–12 months after planting as leaves of the plant
begin to wilt and die. The rhizomes are fleshy, cylindical, and grow from 20 centimetres
to 45 centimetres long.
References
[1] Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations R.C. Wren
Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in Great
Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company Limited.
1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound by Biddles,
Guildford ISBN 085207 1973. Images
1. en.wikipedia.org
by Wibowo Djatmiko (Wie146) CC BY-SA 3.0
2. en.wikipedia.org
by Noblevmy at ml.wikipedia CC BY 2.5
3. news.com.au
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from
the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant
medicinally
