Calathea makoyana

Calathea makoyana , which according to current taxonomy is actually Goeppertia makoyana , is a member of the Marantaceae family, native to Brazil and Colombia. There, it grows in shady spots in the undergrowth of rainforests. It grows from an underground rhizome, which serves as a water and nutrient reservoir. Reaching a height of about 50 cm, it is one of the smaller Marantaceae. In German, it is also known as the Peacock Marant orchid.

This beautiful species perhaps has the most exquisite and delicate pattern of all the Marantas. The leaves have a light green base color with incredibly fine, dark green veins and a dark green margin. Overlaid on this base pattern is a camouflage pattern that looks like a complete, smaller plant! It includes a trunk, branches, and alternate leaves with petioles. This camouflage works particularly well when light shines through the leaves from behind. The light green areas are so thin that light passes through almost unimpeded, leaving only the very dark pattern visible. With this highly effective camouflage, it protects itself from herbivores, especially the caterpillars of various butterflies. The female butterflies don't recognize the large leaf itself but only see the pattern, which mimics a small, completely different-looking plant, and therefore do not lay their eggs on the Maranta.



Arrowroot plants are also called "prayer plants" in English because of the way their leaves move; at night, they fold them upwards like hands in prayer. Generally, the leaves of Marantaceae move relatively quickly and frequently, so these movements (which almost all plants exhibit) are much more noticeable in Marantaceae. This makes them appear truly alive!