Spermatophyta: Monocotyledonae: Zingiberales

Marantaceae

Andersson, (1981) Nordic. J. Bot. 1 48-56

Dhetchuvi, J.B.M.M. & Ley, A.C. (2017) Marantaceae Flore d'Afrique Centrale Nouvelle Serie Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique

Walters, S.M. et al. (eds) (1984) The European Garden Flora. Vol. II. Monocotyledons (Part II). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Description of the family

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.

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

DRC: 6 genera and 9 taxa.

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Links to genera:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

GenusContent
Halopegia K.Schum.
Hypselodelphys Milne-Redh.
Marantochloa Brongn. ex Gris
Sarcophrynium K.Schum.
Thalia L.Description, Image
Trachyphrynium Benth.Image

Other sources of information about Marantaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Marantaceae
Flora of Zambia: Marantaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Marantaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Marantaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Marantaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Marantaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Marantaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Marantaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Marantaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Marantaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Marantaceae
Wikipedia: Marantaceae
Plants of the World Online: Marantaceae
Tropicos: Marantaceae

Copyright: The DRC flora team, 2024-25

The DRC flora team (2025). Flora of the Democratic Republic of Congo: Family page: Marantaceae.
https://www.drcongoflora.com/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=274, retrieved 16 June 2025

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