Maranta arundinacea

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Maranta \Ma*ran"ta\, prop. n. [NL.] (Bot.)
   A genus of endogenous plants found in tropical America, and
   some species also in India. They have tuberous roots
   containing a large amount of starch, and from one species
   ({Maranta arundinacea}, the American arrowroot or obedience
   plant) {arrowroot} ({arrowroot starch}) is obtained. Many
   kinds are cultivated for ornament.
   [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Arrowroot \Ar"row*root`\, n.
   1. (Bot.) A white-flowered west Indian plant of the genus
      {Maranta}, esp. {Maranta arundinacea}, now cultivated in
      many hot countries. Its root yields {arrowroot starch}. It
      said that the Indians used the roots to neutralize the
      venom in wounds made by poisoned arrows.

   Syn: arrowroot, American arrowroot, obedience plant.
        [1913 Webster]

   2. A nutritive starch obtained from the rootstocks of
      {Maranta arundinacea}, and used as food, esp. for children
      an invalids; also, a similar starch obtained from other
      plants, as various species of {Maranta} and {Curcuma}.
      [1913 Webster]