Maranta arundinacea commonly referred to as arrowroot is an herbaceous, perennial plant that grows to a height of 0.9-1.5 m. Arrowroot is cultivated primarily as a source of food starch which is found in cylindrical rhizomes. It is nutritionally dense starches that are extracted from the tubers of a number of perennial rhizomes. It’s not technically a root but rather an underground mass of roots or root system. The herb is extracted from the fleshy roots, called rhizomes, of the arrowroot plant through an elaborate process of washing, peeling, soaking, and drying in the sun.

NameArrowroot
Scientific NameMaranta arundinacea
NativeNative to South America, the Caribbean and Mexico
Common/English NameArrow Head, Arrow-root, Arrowroot, Bermuda Arrowroot, Maranta, Obedience Plant, St. Vincent Arrowroot, West Indian Arrowroot
Name in Other LanguagesRussian : Maranta Trostnikovaia
Argentina : Jamaichipeke
Puerto Rico: Juá-Juá
Brazil: Agoutiguepe
German: Maranta
Indonesia: Angrik
Peru: Saguero
Cuba: Juá-Juá
Japanese: Kuzuukon
Czech : Maranta Rákosovitá
Swedish: Arrowrot
Dutch: Pijlwortel
Eastonian : Roogmaranta
Bolivia: Guate
Venezuela: Ararú
French: Arrowroot Des Antilles
Philippines : Sagu ( Bikol )
Chinese: Zhu Yu
Guatemala : Shimipampana Blanco
Spanish: Ararú
Hungarian : Bermudai Maranta
India : Tikhor, Tikkor ( Hindi )
Cambodia: Daem Run
Laos : Sa:kh’u
Uruguay : Tubérculo De Maranta
Malaysia: Ararut
Vietnamese: Dong Củ
Costa Rica : Rizoma De Maranta
Papiamento: Ararut
Turkish: Ararot
Danish: Salepmaranta
Portuguese : Agutiguepa
Thailand : Sakhu ( Central )
Plant Growth HabitClumping perennial herb
Growing ClimateFlourishes in warm, humid areas
SoilThrives in well-drained, alluvial, and volcanic soils
Plant Size30–130 cm high
StemErect slender stems
Rhizome Shape & SizeSympodial, cylindric, fleshy, starchy, and loosely scaly, about 25 cm long, and 13 cm in diameter (10 inches x 5 inches)
Rhizome ColorWhite, cream-white/light red
Flesh ColorWhite
SkinThin, light-brown skin
Flavor/aromaMild
Weightabout 30 to 50 g.
LeafBasal leaves are 4–8; cauline leaves 1–8; alternate, petiole 3.5–20 cm in basal leaves, often absent in cauline leaves; pulvinus 0.2–1.8 cm, glabrous, adaxially slightly tomentose; lamina ovate-oblong, 3.5–35 by 3–11 cm, pale-green, adaxially sparsely pilose, abaxially glabrous or sparsely pilose, base rounded to truncate, apex acuminate.
FlowerFlowers on common pedicel; sepals green, narrowly ovate, corolla white, tubular, base inflated, lobes 8–10 mm; staminodes white, obovate, ovary three-loculed, densely pubescent, to sub-glabrous.
FruitGreen or reddish-brown tinged, dehiscent, subglobose capsule, 7–8 mm by 4–5 mm.
SeedBrown, rugose with basal aril.
Major NutritionVitamin B9 (Folate) 406 µg (101.50%)
Iron, Fe 2.66 mg (33.25%)
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 0.319 mg (24.54%)
Phosphorus, P 118 mg (16.86%)
Copper, Cu 0.145 mg (16.11%)
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) 0.172 mg (14.33%)
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 2.032 mg (12.70%)
Carbohydrate 16.07 g (12.36%)
Potassium, K 545 mg (11.60%)
Protein 5.09 g (10.18%)
Health Benefits
  • Aids Digestive System
  • Circulation Issues
  • Boosts Immune Function
  • Metabolic Processes
  • Heart Health
  • Safe for Infants
  • Birth Defects
  • Weight Loss Concerns
  • Treats Urinary Tract Infection
  • Stomach Concerns
  • Fights Foodborne Pathogens
  • Growth and Development
Calories in 1cup (120gm)78 Kcal