Plants · La Saladita, Guerrero

Arrowroot

Maranta arundinacea

Spanish: Azafrán

Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea)
Photographed by vctrndr on iNaturalist

Maranta arundinacea, also known as arrowroot, maranta, West Indian arrowroot, obedience plant, Bermuda arrowroot, araru, ararao or hulankeeriya, is a large, perennial herb found in rainforest habitats. 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. Most often recorded in Sep.

TaxonomyLiliopsida › Zingiberales › Marantaceae
Local records1 research-grade observation within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records1,496 on iNaturalist
Recorded here2021 – 2021
Months recorded near La Saladita
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Plants guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/maranta-arundinacea/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.