West Indian Arrowroot

Where does West Indian Arrowroot grow?

Found in: Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Brazil, Cambodia, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, East Timor, Ecuador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, United States, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies

Notes: There are about 32 Maranta species. There are 25 species in tropical America.

Status: It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It has mostly been grown as an experimental crop in Papua New Guinea, and is probably not widely used by village people.

Growing West Indian Arrowroot

Cultivation: Plants are grown from pieces of rhizome or occasionally suckers. A spacing of 1 m x 0.5 m is suitable or can be closer. 3,000-3500 kg of planting material are required for one hectare. The pieces are planted 6-8 cm deep. It requires a fertile soil. Normally flowers are removed to allow as much storage as possible in the rhizomes.

Edible Uses: The rhizomes are used in soups or sauces. They can be just scraped & boiled. They can be used for making flour. It is an easily digested starchy flour. It is a good thickener in sauces. The fresh rhizomes can be stored for 7-8 days. CAUTION It is important to peel off the skin scales or they give a bitter taste to the starch.

Production: Rhizomes are ready for harvest after about 11 months. Successive crops are grown in the same site for 5-7 years. Yields of 12.5 t per hectare are average. These produce 8-16% starch.

Nutrition Info

West Indian Arrowroot Photos

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