arrowroot, any plant of the genus Maranta, usually large perennial herbs, of the family Marantaceae, found chiefly in warm, swampy forest habitats of the Americas and sometimes cultivated for their ornamental leaves. The term arrowroot is also used for the easily digestible starch obtained from the rhizomes of M. arundinacea, the true, or West Indian, arrowroot, which is naturalized in Florida. Other plants produce similar starches, e.g., East Indian arrowroot (from Curcuma angustifolia of the Zingiberaceae, or ginger ginger, common name for members of the Zingiberaceae, a family of tropical and subtropical perennial herbs, chiefly of Indomalaysia. The aromatic oils of many are used in making condiments, perfumes, and medicines, especially stimulants and preparations to ease
..... Click the link for more information. family), Queensland arrowroot (from a canna canna [Lat.,=cane], any plant of the genus Canna, tropical and subtropical perennials, grown in temperate regions in parks and gardens for the large foliage and spikelike, usually red or yellow blossoms.
..... Click the link for more information. of the family Cannaceae), Brazilian arrowroot, or tapioca tapioca (tăpēō`kə), widely used starchy food, obtained from the fleshy root of the bitter cassava .
..... Click the link for more information. , of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge spurge (spûrj), common name for members of the Euphorbiaceae, a family of herbs, shrubs, and trees of greatly varied structure and
..... Click the link for more information. family), and Florida arrowroot, or sago sago (sā`gō) [Malay], edible starch extracted from the pithlike center of several E Asian palms (chiefly Metroxylon sagu
..... Click the link for more information. . True arrowroot is classified in the division Magnoliophyta Magnoliophyta (măg'nōlēŏf`ətə)
..... Click the link for more information. , class Magnoliopsida, order Zingiberales, family Marantaceae.

arrowroot

Any of several plant species of the genus Maranta (family Marantaceae), whose rhizomes yield an edible starch. Chief among these is the herbaceous perennial M. arundinacea, the source of genuine, or West Indies, arrowroot. The powder obtained from the harvested roots is almost pure starch; it is used in cookery as a thickener. Arrowroot is easily digested and is used in diets requiring bland, low-salt, and low-protein foods. Its name is sometimes applied to starches obtained from other plants and used as substitutes for true arrowroot. Brazilian arrowroot, from the cassava plant, is the source of tapioca.

arrowroot

1. a white-flowered West Indian plant, Maranta arundinacea, whose rhizomes yield an easily digestible starch: family Marantaceae

2. any of several other plants whose rhizomes or roots yield starch

arrowroot [′ar·ō‚rüt]

(botany)

Any of the tropical American plants belonging to the genusMarantain the family Marantaceae.

arrowroot (redirected from arrowroots)

arrowroot

arrowroot
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