a west indian plant of the genus maranta, esp. m. arundinacea, now cultivated in many hot countries. it said that the indians used the roots to neutralize the venom in wounds made by poisoned arrows.-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.