Calathea rufibarba

Calathea rufibarba , which according to current taxonomy is actually Goeppertia rufibarba , is an arrowroot plant (Marantaceae) that occurs naturally only in a rather small area on the east coast of Brazil. It grows there near the coast in the Guaraqueçaba Nature Reserve, close to the city of Curitiba. The forest there is known as the "Atlantic Rainforest" and is a subtropical vegetation type with high rainfall and a relatively mild climate.

G. rufibarba has attractive, elongated, and wavy leaves, which are finely hairy on the underside, hence the name ( rufibarba = "red beard"). The long leaf stalks are also red and hairy. It grows from an underground rhizome, which serves as a water and nutrient reservoir. It reaches a height of approximately 50 to 70 cm.



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