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Maranta arundinaceae

Maranta arundinaceae

9.9
A tropical plant with white flowers whose root makes arrowroot starch used in cooking
  • noun
  • /məˈræn.tə əˌrʌn.dɪˈneɪ.si/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Maranta arundinaceae
  • Maranta arundinaceae is cultivated in many tropical countries for its edible starch known as arrowroot.

Examples

  • Traditional Caribbean recipes sometimes use Maranta arundinaceae starch as a thickener in desserts.

  • Many chefs prefer using Maranta arundinaceae starch for its thickening properties.

  • The delicate white flowers of Maranta arundinaceae make it a unique addition to botanical gardens.

  • The Maranta arundinaceae plant thrives in warm, humid climates.

  • Maranta arundinaceae is cultivated in many tropical countries for its edible starch known as arrowroot.

  • Traditional Caribbean recipes sometimes use Maranta arundinaceae starch as a thickener in desserts.

  • Many chefs prefer using Maranta arundinaceae starch for its thickening properties.

Synonyms

arrowroot
vsMaranta arundinaceae
1 6.9

A tropical plant with roots that make a fine starch for cooking

is the West Indian species whose starch also serves industrial purposes
American arrowroot
vsMaranta arundinaceae
  • US
8.6

A West Indian plant whose root makes a fine starch used to thicken food

includes broader uses in cooking and industry beyond food thickening
obedience plant
vsMaranta arundinaceae
  • UK
9.9

A Caribbean plant with white flowers whose root makes arrowroot starch used in cooking

includes both cooking and industrial uses of that starch

Surface Forms

Morphology

maranta + arundinaceae

This is a Latin scientific binomial (genus + family) rather than a compositional English phrase; the constituents are proper names/technical terms ('maranta' as a genus and 'arundinaceae' a family) and do not convey the ordinary-English meaning. Because the parts are specialized or unknown to a B1 learner, the plant meaning cannot be predicted from the constituents, so it is not transparently derivable.

Etymology

Maranta arundinaceae is named after an Italian doctor, Bartolomeo Maranta, and is best known for its thick, starchy roots. People used to scrape these roots to make a fine powder called 'arrowroot' for cooking, so the plant's name is linked to its edible starch.