Marantaceae

Perennial rhizomatous herbs. Leaves generally 2-ranked, usually with a well-developed winged sheath and false petiole; lamina pinnately veined. Inflorescence a spike raceme or head. Flowers bisexual, asymmetric. Calyx of 3 sepals. Corolla 3-lobed, united in a tube below. Fertile stamen 1, with several, variously petaloid, staminodes. Ovary inferior. Fruit fleshy or a capsule.

This family is included in the native and naturalised part of the site in order to refer to the record of Thalia geniculata; however there are no definite records of any native or naturalised species in this family. There are, however, a number of cultivated species which occur.

Worldwide: 29 genera and 535 species in the tropics, mainly America